While New Mexico Gas Co. was strongly criticized for its alleged lack of preparedness, the interdependence of natural gas and electricity infrastructure drew much attention during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee informational hearing held last Monday in Albuquerque, NM.
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Energy Interdependence Examined in Senate Hearing on Shutoffs
While New Mexico Gas Co. was strongly criticized for its alleged lack of preparedness, the interdependence of natural gas and electricity infrastructure drew much attention during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee informational hearing Monday in Albuquerque, NM. The hearing was called in the wake of widespread natural gas service shutoffs early in February during a severe winter freeze that gripped the Southwest.
Industry Brief
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide nearly $38 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve state emergency preparedness plans and ensure quick recovery and restoration from energy supply disruptions, DOE said. Funds will be used by state governments to hire or retrain staff and expand state-level capacities to address challenges to the country’s energy systems, including emergency situations such as blackouts, hurricanes, ice storms and disruptions to heating supplies. Each state will be required to track energy emergencies to assess the restoration and recovery times of any supply disruptions; to train personnel on energy infrastructure and supply systems; and conduct and participate in state and regional energy emergency exercises to evaluate the effectiveness of their energy assurance plans. The awards will also help states address cyber security concerns and prepare for the challenges of integrating smart grid technologies and renewable energy sources into the transmission network.
Lessons of 2005 Hurricane Season Still Being Digested
Despite a dearth of hurricane activity in 2006, speakers on a storm preparedness panel at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston last week still had plenty to talk about. After all, the industry remains on the mend from the momentous 2005 hurricane season and digesting the lessons learned from the one-two punch of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Lessons of 2005 Hurricane Season Still Being Digested
Despite a dearth of hurricane activity in 2006, speakers on a storm preparedness panel at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Tuesday still had plenty to talk about. After all, the industry remains on the mend from the momentous 2005 hurricane season and digesting the lessons learned from the one-two punch of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
FERC: Interstate Pipe Capacity Adequate for New Plants in West
Although there was no agreement on the level of preparedness of the of the western energy infrastructure, a federally developed overview concluded that the interstate natural gas pipeline capacity was adequate to serve the large influx of new gas-fired power plants being built in the region, participants heard Friday at a FERC conference in Seattle.