Phil

Natural gas development is a key component of Mississippi’s energy strategy, according to Gov. Phil Bryant, who on Wednesday said he has taken steps to encourage the use of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the state. Meanwhile, more alternative fuel stations are going up around the nation and Cummins said it has developed a heavy duty, spark-ignited natural gas engine to meet “on-highway applications.”

Natural gas development is a key component of Mississippi’s energy strategy, according to Gov. Phil Bryant, who on Wednesday said he has taken steps to encourage the use of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the state.

Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) named Phil Bussey to a newly created position of senior vice president and chief customer officer. Bussey’s focus will be on the services PSE provides to its 1.5 million natural gas and electric utility customers and various stakeholder groups. He will join the Puget Energy combination utility in mid-March, coming from his current position as CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Bussey previously served as PSE’s senior vice president for corporate affairs before taking the position heading the chamber. In his new position, he will be responsible for customer solutions, corporate affairs, and federal/state government relations.

The 2008 hurricane season “was one of the most destructive years on record from a damage perspective,” according to forecaster Phil Klotzbach of the Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane team.

The 2008 hurricane season “was one of the most destructive years on record from a damage perspective,” according to forecaster Phil Klotzbach of the Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane team.

Despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction on Groundhog Day of a longer winter, the near-term outlook for natural gas is “very bearish,” and the second half of winter and the rest of 2008 “will be ugly for gas prices,” Raymond James & Associates Inc. said last week.

Despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction on Groundhog Day of a longer winter, the near-term outlook for natural gas is “very bearish,” Raymond James analysts said Monday. The second half of winter and the rest of 2008, they said, “will be ugly for gas prices.”

Phil Wright, president of Williams’ natural gas pipeline business, has been elected chairman of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) for 2008. He succeeds Byron Kelley, group president of CenterPoint Energy Pipelines and Field Services. Wright said the pipeline industry has “a lot of challenges ahead,” and “I am looking forward to working with INGAA and its member companies to continue to serve the vital role of helping our nation meet its increasing demand for clean-burning natural gas.” Wright has served as an officer of Williams in a variety of commercial, operating and corporate roles since 1989. He also previously served as the chairman of INGAA’s sister organization, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines. Prior to joining Williams, Wright spent 13 years working for Conoco, a predecessor of ConocoPhillips.

EOG Resources Inc. CEO Mark Papa is hoping Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Friday to help extend the winter season by a few more weeks. Papa warned Thursday the warmer-than-average winter season has placed the natural gas market in a “perilous condition,” and without a cold February, EOG may cut capital expenditures and trim its production forecast for 2007.