Requirements

Mississippi Hub LLC is seeking an exemption from Section 7 certificate requirements to conduct certain temporary activities to determine the operational feasibility of developing a natural gas storage facility in southern Mississippi.

As part of the reauthorization of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 this year, a senior pipeline official asked Congress to relax a controversial standard requiring pipelines to reinspect facilities in high-density areas every seven years.

Thirty-eight trade associations, including several key natural gas-related groups, have called on President Bush to satisfy the requirements of legislation that was signed into law a year ago and appoint an administrator for the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Renewable energy capacity in the U.S. supported by voluntary demand rather than regulatory requirements now tops 2,200 MW — up more than 1,000% in just five years, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released last week at the 10th national green power marketing conference in Austin, TX. The report also notes that purchases by large businesses, institutions and governmental entities are driving the growth of the U.S. voluntary green power market.

Natural gas utility AmerenUE, at the request of the Missouri governor and state officials, has agreed to waive all reconnection fees and suspend deposit requirements for customers receiving assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Missouri’s Utilicare program as part of an initiative to help residents cope with expected high heating costs this winter.

Expanding on Cinergy’s plans to reduce emissions ahead of regulatory requirements, CEO James Rogers said the Midwestern company that serves 1.5 million customers and burns 30 million tons of coal per year will continue to face environmental and capacity addition issues.

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) said Thursday that natural gas requirements for the country’s expanding oilsands industry will grow substantially from the 0.6 Bcf/d recorded in 2003 to a range of 1.4-1.6 Bcf/d by 2015. However, rising gas prices are forcing producers to find alternatives to reduce their dependence on gas as the major source of energy and hydrogen for their operations, the report said.

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) said Thursday that natural gas requirements for the country’s expanding oilsands industry will grow substantially from the 0.6 Bcf/d recorded in 2003 to a range of 1.4-1.6 Bcf/d by 2015. However, rising gas prices are forcing producers to find alternatives to reduce their dependence on gas as the major source of energy and hydrogen for their operations, the report said.

Pipeline constraints and balancing requirements/penalties had something to do with the record high gas prices this winter in the Northeast, but energy consultant Ben Schlesinger also believes inadequate gas market information, particularly regarding peak shaving liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity, was part of the cause.