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A Colorado ballot initiative that would remove a severance tax break for the energy industry would not, as critics have charged, increase residential natural gas prices nor would it push producers out of the state, according to a study by a Denver-based nonprofit group.

In a bit of encouraging news for Rocky Mountain oil and natural gas producers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) plans to remove the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse from the federal threatened species list in Wyoming. However, the mouse for now will remain listed as threatened in Colorado. The FWS said the mouse may be delisted in Wyoming because testing has confirmed that the habitat is no longer at risk from over development. Many of the mice found through testing were located on farmland and ranchland that is not considered at risk for development. However, in Colorado, the FWS noted that development continues to threaten the mouse habitat. “Much of Preble’s riparian habitat in Colorado has been severely altered or destroyed by human activities,” said Steve Guertin, director of the FWS Mountain-Prairie Region. “Continued rapid development is expected along Colorado’s Front Range as the population continues to grow. Without the protection of the federal Endangered Species Act, much of Preble’s habitat would be lost.” The nocturnal mammal, which has a tail twice the length of its three-inch body, mostly lives in streamside habitats near thick vegetation in the foothills of southeastern Wyoming and along the Front Range in Colorado, according to FWS. The mouse is able to jump up to three feet to escape predators. The mouse has been listed as a threatened species since 1998. In Colorado the FWS is expected to use a team made up of state and federal wildlife officials, agricultural and business interests to work on a recovery plan for the Preble’s mouse.

During the installation of a pig receiver at the end of the 12-inch diameter Chattanooga Branch Line in Hamilton County, TN, Southern Natural Gas identified the need to remove a malfunctioning pipeline valve. Southern said it plans to begin the valve removal process, which is expected to take up to 24 hours, on Friday morning. Declaring it a force majeure event, Southern said it was not accepting any nominations at the Chattanooga Meter Station for Friday’s gas day, but did anticipate accepting nominations there on the Timely and Evening cycles for Saturday.

In an effort to remove carbon dioxide from natural gas, which could enable the commercialization of gas with a higher carbon dioxide content, ExxonMobil announced it is committing more than $100 million to complete development and testing of an improved natural gas treating technology that could make carbon capture and storage more affordable and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In an effort to remove carbon dioxide from natural gas, which could enable the commercialization of gas with a higher carbon dioxide content, ExxonMobil announced Monday that it is committing more than $100 million to complete development and testing of an improved natural gas treating technology that could make carbon capture and storage more affordable and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Pipeline shippers Friday expressed support for FERC’s proposal to remove the price cap on short-term releases of transportation capacity and provide a partial exemption for capacity released under asset management arrangements, but they want the agency to go even further.

Pipeline shippers Friday expressed support for FERC’s proposal to remove the price cap on short-term releases of transportation capacity and provide a partial exemption for capacity released under asset management arrangements, but they want the agency to go even further.

Rep. John Mica (R-FL) Tuesday called on Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to remove sections in the Coast Guard authorization bill that he says would block imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the United States.

House advocates of natural gas drilling plan to introduce legislation soon that would remove the congressional ban on gas exploration and drilling in much of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).