Registered

A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday showed that for the first time, Republican voters in New York State have an unfavorable opinion of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who took office two years ago and who is at the forefront of the debate over hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

Opposition to hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in New York State has grown slightly, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday.

A poll shows a majority of Ohio voters support new severance taxes on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and natural gas liquids (NGL), especially if the revenue raised is used to cut state income taxes, an idea proposed by Gov. John Kasich.

Natural gas cash points overall vaulted on average by more than a dime Wednesday as the high demand and thinly supplied Northeast registered gains approaching $1.00 or more. Points to the south of New England saw smaller gains, and the Midwest was mixed. At the close of trading December futures had eased 3.9 cents to $3.578 and January had given up 3.4 cents to $3.714. December crude oil plunged $4.27 to $84.44/bbl.

A record percentage of New Yorkers now support hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and opposition to the practice fell to a low point in October, according to figures from a Siena College Research Institute poll released Friday.

Former natural gas industry executive Sheffield Nelson has enlisted the aid of economist Charles Venus in his campaign to raise the severance tax that Arkansas levies on natural gas production. Raising the tax to 7% would mean an additional $155 million per year for state coffers, the equivalent of less than a day and a half of profits for ExxonMobil, Venus said recently.

A majority of points registered double-digit gains Monday with Northeast locations leading the advance. Expected late spring New England heating loads prompted higher quotes, but a strong screen placed a bullish tone to nearly all delivery points. Futures took much of their cue from longer term weather forecasts showing an axis of warm temperatures engulfing the Midwest and East.

The cash market on average was flat in Wednesday’s trading with gains registered at northeastern points and declines noted in Southern California. Futures made new highs for the recent advance before falling prey to a double-digit drubbing as longer-term weather forecasts called for moderate temperatures in key Midwest and eastern markets and news circulated that a veteran gas trader was closing his hedge fund. At the close of futures trading June had given up 11.8 cents to $2.253 and July had fallen 11.4 cents to $2.354. June crude oil skidded 94 cents to $105.22/bbl.

Cash prices worked higher Thursday amid nuclear outages and supportive weather in a few regions of the country. Northeast points registered stout gains, and for the most part traders were able to complete their exchanges prior to the 10:30 a.m. EST Energy Information Administration (EIA) report that showed a withdrawal of 166 Bcf, somewhat lighter than expected.