Ready

Approximately 40,000 MW of additional electricity can be squeezed from existing coal-fired power plants nationwide through the installation of standard improvements and clean coal technologies, according to a new study by the National Coal Council (NCC). The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, also recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency return to its prior interpretation of a key section included in the federal Clean Air Act so as to foster efficiency improvements at power plants.

Approximately 40,000 MW of additional electricity can be squeezed from existing coal-fired power plants nationwide through the installation of standard improvements and clean coal technologies, according to a new study by the National Coal Council (NCC). The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, also recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency return to its prior interpretation of a key section included in the federal Clean Air Act so as to foster efficiency improvements at power plants.

Barrett Resources wasn’t quite ready to circle the wagons onFriday to fight off a hostile takeover bid by Royal Dutch ShellGroup, but it did give Shell the cold shoulder. Barrett said itwould begin an open bidding process to consider proposals from “anumber of qualified parties, rather than commencing negotiationssolely with Shell under artificial deadlines that only serveShell’s interests.”

Barrett Resources wasn’t quite ready to circle the wagons onFriday to fight off a hostile takeover bid by Royal Dutch ShellGroup, but did give Shell the cold shoulder. Barrett said it wouldbegin an open bidding process to consider proposals from “a numberof qualified parties, rather than commencing negotiations solelywith Shell under artificial deadlines that only serve Shell’sinterests.”

The White House energy task force plans to forwardrecommendations for a national energy policy to Capitol Hill inearly April, according to a high-level staff official for the taskforce.

The White House energy task force plans to forwardrecommendations for a national energy policy to Capitol Hill inearly April, according to a top staff official for the task force.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline has completed constructionand commissioning of the Halifax Lateral, which is ready to delivergas to Nova Scotia Power Tufts Cove Generating Station and willcommence service today. The 77-mile, 12-inch diameter pipelineextends from a point on the mainline near Stellarton to the Tuftsplant in Dartmouth. There are two firm service agreements in placewith Nova Scotia Power for a total of 61,600 MMBtu/day.Construction of the Saint John Lateral also is nearly complete.When the pipeline receives a leave-to-open from the National EnergyBoard, commissioning activities will begin. The lateral is onschedule for service in late November. Facilities for the SaintJohn Lateral consist of 63 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline froma point near Kedron Lake to delivery points in the Saint John andLake Utopia areas in New Brunswick. The Saint John lateral isdesigned to transport 164,000 MMBtu/d of gas. M&NP also said ithas received approval from the NEB to build facilities to serveEnbridge Gas New Brunswick’s distribution system in eastern,western and southern Saint John. The northern facilities are onhold.

Shell Exploration and Production (SEPCo) said it is ready toroll on development of a major new deep-water Gulf of Mexicoproject, good for an estimated 300 million boe, at the same time itannounced another deep water discovery with potential reservesgreater than 200 million boe.

Shell Exploration and Production (SEPCo) said yesterday it isready to roll on development of a major new deepwater Gulf ofMexico project, good for an estimated 300 million boe, at the sametime it announced another deep water discovery with potentialreserves greater than 200 million boe.