Plant

With 1,000 Louisiana chemical plant jobs lost in 2003 alone, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco last Monday called on the nation’s governors to press the federal government to form a “coordinated response” to historically high natural gas prices. At the same, top energy lawmakers engaged in a war of words in a Capitol Hill newspaper over the fate of the stalled Senate energy bill.

With 1,000 Louisiana chemical plant jobs lost in 2003 alone, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco on Monday called on the nation’s governors to press the federal government to form a “coordinated response” to historically high natural gas prices. At the same, top energy lawmakers engaged in a war of words in a Capitol Hill newspaper over the fate of the stalled Senate energy bill.

Alabama Gov. Robert Riley last week warned FERC and the state port authority that he would block the sale of state-owned land outside of Mobile, AL, to ExxonMobil Corp. to site a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal unless the agency first conducts an independent, site-specific study of the potential hazards facing the public.

Alabama Gov. Robert Riley this week warned FERC and a state port authority that he would block the sale of state-owned land outside of Mobile, AL, to ExxonMobil Corp. to site a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal unless the agency first conducts an independent, site-specific study of the potential hazards facing the public.

Duke Energy defied analysts’ expectations by announcing last Wednesday that it would maintain its $1.10/share annual dividend. However, new CEO Paul Anderson outlined a major restructuring plan and said the company would have to take a $3.3 billion fourth quarter 2003 pretax charge as a result of asset impairments.

Duke Energy defied analysts’ expectations by announcing Wednesday that it would maintain its $1.10/share annual dividend. However, new CEO Paul Anderson outlined a major restructuring plan and said the company would have to take a $3.3 billion fourth quarter 2003 pretax charge as a result of asset impairments.

The liquids level at the Tivoli Plant onshore Texas from a Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System pigging operation had receded to the point that all scheduled nominations were being accepted for Tuesday’s Intraday 2 cycle, MOPS operator Northern Natural Gas said. The pipeline was forced to shut down Sunday due to excess liquids being received at Tivoli (see Daily GPI, Dec. 23). According to an NNG spokesman, “We were able to get rid of the liquids faster than expected, and there are no remaining constraints on MOPS.” Florida Gas Transmission resumed taking deliveries from MOPS at their interconnect in Matagorda County, TX effective with the Intraday 2 cycle for Tuesday’s gas day and for Wednesday’s evening cycle. Another MOPS pigging is scheduled for Dec. 26-31.

Due to an excessive amount of liquids received at the Tivoli Plant onshore Texas Sunday morning, the Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System was shut in that day and all receipts and deliveries were scheduled to zero. Return to service is expected by Tuesday, MOPS operator Northern Natural Gas said; it had expected to finish a scheduled pigging project Sunday (see Daily GPI, Dec. 18). Florida Gas Transmission took its scheduled deliveries from MOPS at their interconnect in Matagorda County, TX to zero for Sunday’s gas day and until further notice.

In a decision that could knock gas demand down a notch in Texas, CenterPoint subsidiary Texas Genco Holdings said it will mothball 2,990 MW of older gas-fired generation because of an oversupply situation. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has forecast a 20% reserve margin this year. Significant new and more efficient merchant power has been built in the state, pushing older plants out of the market.