Political

Although political pressure and some editorial writers seem bent on goading California’s governor into action on new energy legislation in the waning days of this year’s legislative session, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger remained unmoved on Friday, following a letter from the lower house Assembly Speaker and a consumer group rally on the Capitol steps last Wednesday.

The proposed Sempra Energy-Shell joint venture North Baja, Mexico, liquefied natural gas (LNG) project has the best chance among current ones proposed in Mexico to actually come to fruition, but even it still faces some major questions, according to a U. S.-based expert monitoring energy developments in Mexico.

The proposed Sempra Energy-Shell joint venture North Baja, Mexico, liquefied natural gas (LNG) project has the best chance among current ones proposed in Mexico to actually come to fruition, but even it still faces some major questions, according to a U. S.-based expert monitoring energy developments in Mexico.

By a quirk of political fate, made possible by a national difference in resource ownership, consumers in Alberta, the chief Canadian producing province, will pay less for natural gas in January than they did in December — and pocket the savings because wholesale prices went up across North America.

The political decks have been cleared for the long-awaited construction application for a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline with a land and economic-assistance agreement entered into by the Canadian government with the last resisting aboriginal group. While some financial and tax details remain to be worked out, project sponsors predicted an in-service date of 2008 for the estimated C$4 billion (US$2.6 billion) line from the far north to northwestern Alberta.

The political decks have been cleared for the long-awaited construction application for a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline with a land and economic-assistance agreement entered into by the Canadian government with the last resisting aboriginal group. While some financial and tax details remain to be worked out, project sponsors predicted an in-service date of 2008 for the estimated C$4 billion (US$2.6 billion) line from the far north to northwestern Alberta.

Sensing more political interest in possible overlap and duplication among state energy agencies, California’s three major state energy organizations announced this month they are jointly sponsoring a draft “energy action plan” that establishes “shared goals and specific actions” to assure adequate, economic and environmentally sound electricity and natural gas supplies.

Sensing more political interest in possible overlap and duplication among state energy agencies, California’s three major state energy organizations announced Friday they are jointly sponsoring a draft “energy action plan” that establishes “shared goals and specific actions” to assure adequate, economic and environmentally sound electricity and natural gas supplies.

While discounting current highs as seasonal and political, the Canadian natural gas sector sees the North American market shaping up as strong enough to stimulate a fresh and sustained run at expanding supplies.