Idaho regulators are looking at the latest integrated resource plan (IRP) of PacifiCorp’s Rocky Mountain Power unit, which assumes modest 1.1% annual growth and some changes in coal-fired power generation, including the retirement of a unit and replacement with a new natural gas-fired generation facility. Salt Lake City-based Rocky Mountain is the PacifiCorp operating utility in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Part of the IRP filed with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) calls for Rocky Mountain converting its Naughton Unit 3 coal-fired plant near Kemmerer, WY, to a natural gas-fired plant, and installing emissions control equipment on coal units in Utah (Hunter Unit 1) and Wyoming (Jim Bridger Units 3 and 4). The utility said that these plans are not final, due to the uncertainty of the future federal carbon tax legislation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final new standards for power plants. The PUC said it is taking comments from the public through Aug. 8.
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The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has approved a multi-year rate plan for Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to increase annual limits for natural gas and electricity rates over the next three to four years. PSE’s gas rates would increase by $9.1 million, or 1.55%, and power rates would increase by $52.3 million, or 3.34%, effective Monday (July 1). Rates may increase over the period by a maximum of 3%, with any excess amounts recovered the following year. Also as part of the approval, UTC separated utility profits from sales levels. The so-called “decoupling” allows the utility to recover fixed costs regardless of how much gas and electricity it sells.
West Virginia Officials to Discuss Industry’s Impact on Local Roads
State lawmakers in West Virginia plan to meet in Wheeling on Thursday to discuss the impact the oil and gas industry is having on local roadways.
DOE to Rule ‘Expeditiously’ On Pending LNG Permits
After dancing around the issue for a few minutes last Thursday, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said federal officials plan to “move expeditiously” on applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without free trade agreements (FTA) with the United States.
Ohio Governor Revives Severance Tax Proposal
In an effort to revive his plan to levy new severance taxes on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and natural gas liquids (NGL), Ohio Gov. John Kasich has proposed giving 25% of the tax proceeds to 33 counties in the state’s Appalachian region, home to Ohio’s Utica Shale drilling.
New Gas-Fueled Power Plant Set for Oregon
As part of its multi-sourced, multi-year integrated resource plan (IRP) approved by state regulators three years ago, (PGE) said Monday it has signed deals to develop a 440 MW natural gas-fired electric generation plant in Oregon, along with new wind power and electric transmission.
Texas Firm Seeks to Provide Gas-Based Well Site Services
Plan would also have drillers use natural gas-fueled rigs, but conflict arises between E&Ps and drilling companies regarding the use of gas at the well sites.
Ohio Bill Offers Local Benefits for Selling Water to Operators
A bill under consideration by the Ohio House of Representatives would allow local governments to transfer into their coffers revenue generated from water sales to unconventional drilling operators.
Sunoco Targets Eaglebine Crude with Pipe Conversion
In the coming days, Sunoco Logistics Partners LP plans to launch an open season for its planned Eaglebine Express crude pipeline project to convert a portion of the MagTex refined products pipeline to crude service and reverse the flow to carry crude from Hearne, TX, to the company’s terminal in Nederland, TX.
Tesoro Plans Crude Rail Project to West
In another plan for getting shale-driven domestic crude oil supplies in the central United States to the West Coast, Tesoro Corp. and Savage Companies on Monday formed a joint venture to develop and operate a new rail shipment-linked 120,000 b/d unloading and marine loading facility at Port of Vancouver, WA, across the Columbia River from Portland, OR.
