Recommending

Following news that biologists at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are recommending a “not warranted” for protection listing for the greater sage grouse, it appears that natural gas producers might be able to breathe a little easier about their activities in the West. An alliance group fighting to keep the bird off of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection list labeled the decision — if it becomes final — as “the biggest win the West has seen in decades.”

As part of an 111-page draft report that the California Energy Commission (CEC’s) is scheduled to vote on this Wednesday, the state is urged to address its natural gas infrastructure needs from the standpoint of regional impacts of new infrastructure in surrounding western states and with an objective of creating excess or “slack capacity” for the future. Excess capacity could have saved the state billions of dollars in the premiums paid for wholesale gas supplies last year, according to the draft staff report, which doesn’t represent the opinions of the appointed energy commissioners.

A special commission formed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush isrecommending the state break up its monopoly utilities and pave theway for competition in the power generation market by doing awaywith certain laws and amending others.

A special commission formed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush isrecommending the state break up its monopoly utilities and pave theway for competition in the power generation market by doing awaywith certain laws and amending others.