Promoted

Downtown Houston was filled to overflowing with the city’s energy workforce Tuesday in the nation’s first Energy Citizens rally, promoted by producers and business organizations that want to stop passage of the climate change bill now before Congress. However, some of the biggest companies declined to participate in the call to arms, and questions remain as to what the industry really wants Congress to do.

The cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse gas emissions that is being promoted by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats is a “dead end” and “an enormous threat to our economy,” according to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Steven L. Mueller has been promoted to CEO of Southwestern Energy Co. Mueller joined Southwestern in June 2008 as president and COO. A graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, Mueller previously worked for Tenneco Oil Co., Fina Oil Co., American Exploration Co., Belco Oil & Gas Co., The Houston Exploration Co. and CDX Gas LLC. Harold M. Korell, who is stepping down as Southwestern’s CEO, was appointed to serve as executive chairman until his retirement in early 2010, after which he would become the nonexecutive chairman.

A cornerstone of the much-promoted plan by oil and gas billionaire T. Boone Pickens to relieve American dependence on foreign oil and combat climate change calls for natural gas to be widely used as a transportation fuel, particularly by the long-haul trucking industry. However, cost, infrastructure and logistics challenges make such a goal highly problematic, according to trade group American Trucking Associations (ATA).

A cornerstone of the much-promoted plan by oil and gas billionaire T. Boone Pickens to relieve American dependence on foreign oil and combat climate change calls for natural gas to be widely used as a transportation fuel, particularly by the long-haul trucking industry. However, cost, infrastructure and logistics challenges make such a goal highly problematic, according to trade group American Trucking Associations (ATA).

Dolly was promoted from a tropical storm to a full-fledged hurricane late Tuesday afternoon and precautionary measures — including shut-ins — continued during the day at exploration and production infrastructure off the lower Texas coast. But the markets were affirming a general belief that barring an unlikely turn to the north, the storm will have minimal impact on offshore operations. Cash gas fell at all points, accompanied by a futures plunge.

James C. Yardley has been promoted to executive vice president of El Paso Corp. and president of the company’s pipeline group. Yardley is currently president of Southern Natural Gas Co. He will retain that role as well as assume responsibility for the management of all of El Paso’s pipeline and related activities. “Jim is an outstanding leader who brings broad experience and sound judgment, both strategic and operating, to this position,” said CEO Doug Foshee. “I am confident Jim will further our pipeline group’s strong performance and growth.” Yardley has a 28-year career with El Paso, which includes various corporate, marketing and pipeline responsibilities.

Stephen A. Furbacher, longtime executive vice president of Dynegy Inc.’s Midstream natural gas business, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer. Furbacher, 57, whose Midstream unit has been sold to Targa Resources, had announced earlier this month that he would retire after 30 years at Dynegy (see Power Market Today, Aug. 3). Furbacher agreed to defer his retirement after Alec G. Dreyer, power generation executive vice president, announced earlier this week he was resigning to pursue other interests. Furbacher will add Dreyer’s power generation responsibilities to his midstream operations oversight. He will continue to report directly to Bruce A. Williamson, Dynegy’s chairman and CEO.

Kinder Morgan Monday announced that Deborah A. Macdonald will be promoted to president of Natural Gas Pipelines, effective June 1 for both Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. Macdonald will also retain her title as president of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL). “Deb Macdonald is one of the brightest executives in the natural gas industry,” said Richard D. Kinder, chairman and CEO of Kinder Morgan. “She has done an outstanding job of spearheading NGPL’s resurrection since we acquired that asset in the KN Energy transaction in 1999. We look forward to the leadership that she will provide to our entire natural gas pipelines group, which includes over 20,000 miles of transportation pipelines and approximately 1,300 employees.” Macdonald will replace William V. Allison, who will retire effective June 1. Macdonald has held numerous management and legal positions over nearly 20 years in the energy industry, including president of Transwestern Pipeline Company.