Regulators

California regulators Thursday began to consider whether Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) violated state or federal rules regarding pipeline classification in the wake of the San Bruno transmission pipeline rupture and explosion last year. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) opened the case at its regular business meeting in San Francisco.

In all the hoopla surrounding the Marcellus Shale’s natural gas resources and its access to East Coast markets, it may be easy to forget that the Haynesville Shale was once the toast of the gas world. To Encana Corp., it still is.

Regulators in North Dakota are considering a lawsuit to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating hydraulic fracturing (fracking) well stimulation. The state’s Industrial Commission might ask lawmakers for $1 million for the effort.

Federal regulators are seeking to toughen regulations for interstate natural gas pipelines following two deadly explosions that rocked the West and East Coasts within the past year.

Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp.’s two utility subsidiaries have filed with Wyoming regulators for authorization to build a natural gas-fired power plant in Cheyenne that would include both a peaking and combined-cycle baseload unit. Black Hills Power and Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power asked the Wyoming Public Service Commission (PSC) for permission to build the $237 million complex to provide 37 MW of simple-cycle peaking capacity and a separate 95 MW of combined-cycle capacity. Cheyenne Light would own and operate the peaking unit, and the two utilities would jointly own and operate the baseload facility with Black Hills Power owning the majority (55 MW).

California’s air regulators earlier in October set the final rules for a precedent-setting cap-and-trade program called for in the state’s 2006 climate change law (AB 32). The rules hold major long-term implications for energy operators, particularly natural gas-fired electric generation plants.

If operators and service companies want to succeed in shale plays, they should keep an eye on state regulators, even in states far from where they plan to operate, “simply because those regulations tend to get passed around,” said a contractor active in shale.

The energy status quo in Alaska “isn’t good enough,” and the industry, regulators, lawmakers and consumers all need to reconsider how the state handles oil and gas, according to Gov. Sean Parnell. And targeting natural gas markets in Asia, rather than the Lower 48, should be one of the things considered, he said.

The energy status quo in Alaska “isn’t good enough,” and the industry, regulators, lawmakers and consumers all need to reconsider how the state handles oil and gas, according to Gov. Sean Parnell. And targeting natural gas markets in Asia, rather than the Lower 48, should be one of the things considered, he said.