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The spot market continued to rely on significant heat levels for early June and prior-day futures strength in rising at all points for a second straight day Friday. Thursday’s report of a slightly below-expectations storage injection, which came out too late to impact most of that day’s cash trading, was an extra impetus for the price gains despite the typically lower industrial load during a weekend period.

A coalition of 13 House lawmakers led by Rep. Don Young of Alaska has called on the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to rely on sound science when designating critical habitat for polar bear populations in Alaska.

With increased natural gas drilling just not getting the job done any more in North America, the energy industry will have to rely on increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports along with renewable sources of energy in order to close the ever-widening supply/demand gap, according to Ken Snodgrass, senior vice president of Shell Trading Gas and Power/Coral Energy.

With increased natural gas drilling just not getting the job done any more in North America, the energy industry will have to rely on increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports along with renewable sources of energy in order to close the ever-widening supply/demand gap, according to Ken Snodgrass, senior vice president of Shell Trading Gas and Power/Coral Energy.

Prices continued to rely on the bullish combination of significant heating load in several market areas and a strong day-earlier screen to achieve further gains at nearly all points Thursday. Upward momentum was building as most upticks were larger than those on Wednesday. The exception was Northeast citygates, which — except for Transco Zone 6-New York City recording a second straight spike of about a dollar — rose at a slower pace than Wednesday and included Dracut, the only point to see a setback of about 15 cents.

Stating that the local distribution company (LDC) story from the buyer’s perspective is one of “growth and more growth,” Nick Stavropoulos, president of KeySpan Energy Delivery New England, said that at the end of the day, LDCs will “remain the key link” to the natural gas customer, ensuring reliable gas service.

With little in the way of fresh fundamental news Thursday,traders were forced to rely on technical factors, which continuedto steer them to the long side of the market. Since plumbing a$4.38 low three days ago, the prompt month has rallied 38 cents toclose at $4.76 yesterday.