Republicans

Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee put the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on the hot seat because of his ties to the former chairman of MF Global Holdings Ltd., which collapsed in late October and took with it an estimated $1.2 billion in customer funds.

The Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGAWV) said Wednesday it has launched a new alliance, Just Beneath the Surface (JBTS), to provide the public with information and debunk myths about the industry.

Looking for ways to keep demand on pace with production, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) is proposing a $200 million program to expand natural gas vehicle (NGV) infrastructure across Pennsylvania.

President Obama Wednesday defended his energy policy from the ongoing attacks of industry and Republicans on Capitol Hill, and championed natural gas as a new source of energy. The threat of a cut in oil imports due to the political implosions of a number of Middle Eastern countries has added fuel to the verbal battle between the administration and the oil and gas industry over the de facto moratorium on Gulf of Mexico (GOM) drilling.

Natural Gas producers may be able to upload their data on fluids used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in a day or two to www.hydraulicfracturingdisclosure.org, provided that they have created a login, said Mike Nickolaus, special projects director for the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC).

The tax deal struck between President Obama and congressional Republicans last week does not appear to have any adverse “pay-fors” for oil and natural or an increase in taxes for energy, said an official with a producer association.

The American Gas Association (AGA), which represents natural gas utilities, said it was encouraged by the deal that President Obama and congressional Republicans have reached to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, including a reduction in the maximum dividend tax rate to 15% for an additional two years.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was called to task last week by House Republicans from two separate committees who want him to explain comments indicating natural gas drillers may be required to disclose hydraulic fracturing (fracking) chemicals used to develop shale and tight gas on public lands.

House Republicans from two separate committees are asking Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to explain comments he made Tuesday that indicated natural gas drillers may be required to disclose hydraulic fracturing (fracking) chemicals used to develop shale and tight gas on public lands.