Policymakers

Producers face an “aggressive and well-orchestrated effort” by lawmakers and other policymakers to “mischaracterize and demonize” the use of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) technology to develop gas shale, an independent producer official said last Wednesday during the inaugural hearing of the House Natural Gas Caucus.

A crowd of about 2,000, mostly landowners, gathered in Bainbridge, NY, recently to urge state and federal policymakers to allow the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) techniques to develop natural gas in the state’s Marcellus and Ithaca shale formations.

A crowd of about 2,000, mostly landowners, gathered in Bainbridge, NY, Sunday to urge state and federal policymakers to allow the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) techniques to develop natural gas in the state’s Marcellus and Ithaca shale formations.

Major producer groups last Tuesday warned Washington policymakers that a windfall profits tax or other punitive taxes on producers would hurt the financial health of the industry, reduce domestic oil and natural gas production and result in significant job losses.

Major producer groups Tuesday warned Washington policymakers that a windfall profits tax or other punitive taxes on producers would hurt the financial health of the industry, reduce domestic oil and natural gas production and result in significant job losses.

While there are no hard estimates, an early analysis presented to state energy policymakers last Tuesday indicates the costs to California’s retail energy utility customers will increase up to 30% to pay for stepped up renewable and energy efficiency programs enabling the state to meet its highly touted goal of reducing its overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2010.

While there are no hard estimates, an early analysis presented to state energy policymakers Tuesday indicates the costs to California’s retail energy utility customers will increase up to 30% to pay for stepped up renewable and energy efficiency programs enabling the state to meet its now highly touted goal of reducing its overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2010.

Swinging its support behind the federal action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the American Gas Association (AGA) said last week that policymakers must provide energy utilities with the opportunity to make greater use of domestic resources to “make meaningful advances in addressing climate change.”

Swinging its support behind the federal action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the American Gas Association (AGA) said Thursday that policymakers must provide energy utilities with the opportunity to make greater use of domestic resources to “make meaningful advances in addressing climate change.”