A staff member of Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), with a background in Marcellus Shale issues and energy taxes, has joined the government relations staff of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). Before joining the IPAA, Matthew Kellogg was legislative assistant to Reed, who is co-chair of the Marcellus Shale Caucus, which was formed earlier this year, and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Matt’s legislative background in energy policy, particularly as the head staffer of the Marcellus Shale Caucus, will provide a unique perspective on the industry’s public policy challenges,” said IPAA President Barry Russell. Prior to his stint in Congress, Kellogg worked at the New York State Assembly Minority Counsel’s Office in Albany, where he researched legislation and agency regulations regarding the state’s moratorium on horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. At the IPAA, Kellogg primarily will be responsible for the legislative and regulatory issues surrounding Marcellus Shale development. He will also serve as a legal adviser on environment and tax policy.
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BP plc has appointed Fergus MacLeod as the new strategy chief. MacLeod, a former Deutsche Bank oil analyst, has been in charge of BP’s investor relations unit since 2002 and he will continue to run that unit. Ian Smale, 51, who has been BP’s head of strategy for the past three years, has retired from BP after 30 years. MacLeod will report directly to CEO Bob Dudley. Because MacLeod formerly was an energy analyst, he is expected to be attuned to shareholder concerns as the oil major attempts to revive investor confidence. Dudley said in July that stabilizing the company was his top priority (see Daily GPI, July 27).
ExxonMobil, Shell Launch Shale Advocacy Efforts
Shell Oil Co. last week launched a public relations campaign to showcase its onshore natural gas drilling efforts, followed a day later by ExxonMobil Corp., which on Thursday unveiled a website to “give context to the growth of natural gas resources in the United States.”
ExxonMobil, Shell Launch Shale, Frack Advocacy Efforts
One day after Shell Oil Co. launched a public relations campaign to showcase its onshore natural gas drilling efforts, ExxonMobil Corp. on Thursday unveiled a website to “give context to the growth of natural gas resources in the United States.”
ExxonMobil, Chevron Heed Hydrofrack Concerns
ExxonMobil Corp. last week launched a public relations campaign and Chevron Corp. is working with industry groups to assure the public that drilling unconventional wells using hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) is safe. The moves preceded separate annual meetings where shareholders voiced growing support for more disclosure about the well stimulation practices.
ExxonMobil, Chevron Heeding Mistrust of Hydrofracking
ExxonMobil Corp. this week launched a public relations campaign while Chevron Corp. is working with industry groups to assure the public that drilling unconventional wells using hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) is safe. The moves preceded separate annual meetings where shareholders voiced growing support for more disclosure about the well stimulation practices.
California Regulators, PG&E Bicker Over Pipeline Safety
Relations are increasingly strained between the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) after coming to a head Tuesday over the utility’s latest plans to verify operating pressures for hundreds of miles of natural gas transmission pipeline in highly populated areas.
Cabot Strengthens Ties with Marcellus Community
Seeking to shore up relations with communities in Susquehanna County, PA, where state officials say Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. is responsible for contaminated groundwater, the Houston-based producer hosted an overflow crowd of thousands of residents at a free community picnic Saturday in Montrose, the county seat.
CFTC Meets Thursday to Consider Position Limits Rule
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said it will hold a public meeting Thursday (Jan. 14) to consider issuing a much-anticipated proposed rule on energy position limits and hedge exemptions on regulated futures exchanges, derivatives transaction execution facilities and electronic trading facilities.
Broadening Coalition Urges Federal Action on Climate Change
In the end, last week’s Capitol Hill photo-op for the green side turned out to be a broad, nationwide public relations/lobbying effort to urge federal powers in Washington, DC, to frame a national response to global warming. Twelve states, 20 financial services firms, and a dozen each foundations and business leaders comprised 65 signatories to a “call to action” in the nation’s capital.
