Programs

The Alberta government Thursday granted a one-year extension of two temporary natural gas drilling incentive programs but postponed decisions on introducing any permanent regime changes.

The global financial crisis is affecting FERC-related projects and programs, but how deeply it may impact the sector in 2009 is still unknown, said FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller, adding that the impact on renewables is already pronounced.

The global financial crisis is affecting FERC-related projects and programs, but how deeply it may impact the sector in 2009 is still unknown, said Commissioner Philip Moeller last week. He added that the impact on renewables is already pronounced.

PECO’s new gas delivery rate will take effect on Jan. 1 and will fund expanded energy efficiency and customer programs, higher operating costs and new investments in the gas distribution system in the Philadelphia suburbs, the utility said Monday.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is expanding programs with the U.S. Green Building Council, Global Green USA and Habitat for Humanity International to permit customers in the northern half of California to gain certification in the Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

With its multi-state utility operations centered in geographical areas undergoing big pushes for renewable energy and conservation programs, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy will be deemphasizing the use of natural gas and coal to fuel its power fleet, according to CEO Dick Kelly, who spoke last Tuesday at the Merrill Lynch Power and Gas Leaders Conference in New York City. As a result, Xcel also will be adding to its $2.4 billion high-voltage electric transmission system.

The growing bipartisan appeal of clean and efficient energy programs was evident as major environmental and business interests praised California’s move to adopt what state officials are touting as the nation’s first statewide “green” building code. The California Building Standards Commission said it acted at the direction of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The fundamentals are in place for exploration and production (E&P) companies to spend more on drilling programs and deliver a healthy return on the money they spend, provided they earn a New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) natural gas price of around $8.75/Mcf, according to energy analyst John Gerdes.

The fundamentals are in place for exploration and production (E&P) companies to spend more on drilling programs and deliver a healthy return on the money they spend, provided they earn a New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) natural gas price of around $8.75/Mcf, according to energy analyst John Gerdes.