Passage

Speedy passage of a slimmed-down Senate energy bill seemed all but assured Thursday night after Democratic leaders agreed to scrap the controversial $21.8 billion tax package that Senate Republicans and President Bush opposed.

Following up on the state Senate’s passage (14-6) of a 22.5% tax on oil and natural gas profits, Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski launched a campaign Tuesday to influence the state House to roll back the tax to his “20-20” plan or risk jeopardizing the deal he has made with major producers to build a $25 billion natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to the Lower 48.

With the passage of the omnibus energy bill last month, Congress “in effect visciated the lawsuit” brought by California regulators challenging FERC’s jurisdiction over the siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher said Wednesday.

In an effort to keep the energy bill on the front burner, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reminded gas consumers and the media what he said late last month: “I hope and pray that during the ensuing months without an energy bill we don’t have high spikes in natural gas prices and the people of our country asking: What have we done about it? Our answer is nothing. I hope that doesn’t happen. But I think there is a chance it will happen.”

In an effort to keep the energy bill on the front burner, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reminded gas consumers and the media what he said late last month: “I hope and pray that during the ensuing months without an energy bill we don’t have high spikes in natural gas prices and the people of our country asking: What have we done about it? Our answer is nothing. I hope that doesn’t happen. But I think there is a chance it will happen.”

Sen Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Rep. W.J. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, the chief Republican negotiators on the energy bill, said Friday that an agreement had been reached on the disputed issues in the tax package that allows them to make the text of the bill public on Saturday, and sets the stage for the measure to possibly clear both houses before lawmakers adjourn later this month.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) last Wednesday said that he thinks that the Senate will back incentives for a Trans-Alaska gas pipeline as part of a broader energy bill working its way through Congress.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) on Wednesday said that he thinks that the Senate will back incentives for a Trans-Alaska gas pipeline as part of a broader energy bill working its way through Congress.

Offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) terminals came closer to reality last Tuesday with the passage of H.R. 3983 by the House of Representatives. If the Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002 becomes law in its current form, among other things it would allow the Department of Transportation to license offshore port facilities for both LNG and CNG, an option currently reserved only for oil.