Powerful

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale struck Mexico Tuesday centered in the state of Guerrero near the Pacific Coast city of Acapulco and rattling Mexico City nearly 250 miles away. There were no initial reports of deaths and the nation’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals appeared to be undamaged.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), former chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, has announced that he will not seek reelection in 2012 after serving 32 years in Congress. Frank, 71, and former Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) co-wrote and shepherded the sweeping Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act through Congress last year. President Obama signed the legislation into law in July 2010 (see NGI, July 26, 2010). Earlier this year, he opposed Republicans’ efforts to water down the financial reform law by cutting the budgets of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the two agencies tasked with enforcing the stricter law. Frank was instrumental in getting Hess LNG to withdraw its proposal to build the controversial Weaver’s Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Fall River, MA. The company withdrew its application in June in response to the opposition from a number of congressional, state and local officials (see NGI, June 20).

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), former chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, announced Monday that he will not seek reelection in 2012 after serving 32 years in Congress.

A large coalition of public health and environmental groups has launched a campaign to regulate chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and other exploration and production (E&P) processes at the source, petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require disclosure from chemical manufacturers and processors.

No matter how powerful the news media might seem, it can’t reverse the flow of gas on a major interstate transmission pipeline. Responding to a financial analyst’s question last week, Kinder Morgan Inc. CEO Rich Kinder said recent rumors of a flow reversal on Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) were greatly exaggerated.

No matter how powerful the news media might seem, it can’t reverse the flow of gas on a major interstate transmission pipeline. Responding to a financial analyst’s question Wednesday, Kinder Morgan Inc. CEO Rich Kinder said recent rumors of a flow reversal on Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) were greatly exaggerated.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who was edged out as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a sort of parting gift has been named chairman emeritus of the panel.

The Republican Steering Committee last Tuesday selected Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, bringing to a close the bitter power struggle for the top seat. The entire House Republican Conference seconded the vote last Wednesday.

The Republican Steering Committee Tuesday selected Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, bringing to a close the bitter power struggle for the top seat. The entire House Republican Conference seconded the vote on Wednesday.