Role

New England must acknowledge the significant role that the natural gas transmission system plays in its electricity system, and the gas and electric industries “must make adjustments to ensure the reliability of both systems and the efficiency of both markets,” according to a draft white paper recently completed by independent grid operator ISO New England (ISO-NE).

A fourth company is considering plans to build an ethane cracker in West Virginia, according to state Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette.

Current and former officials in the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) warn that companies hoping to build an ethane cracker in the state could have difficulty getting the necessary permits if they choose to build in areas that don’t meet federal air quality standards.

The intent of continued research by the Department of Energy (DOE) into hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is “can we help drive the technology development forward,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a Senate committee Thursday.

Abundant natural gas, including shale, is playing a significant role in continuing the three-year slide in electric power prices and the downbeat outlook for independent power producers, say analysts.

The board of directors of Range Resources Corp. has approved several management changes in preparation for the transition of CEO John Pinkerton to the role of executive chairman on Jan. 1. Current COO Jeff Ventura previously was named the new CEO. In addition, the board has promoted Ray Walker to senior vice president and COO. Walker is to oversee all of Range’s operations and would continue to lead the company’s environmental, safety, regulatory and best practices programs. Alan Farquharson has been promoted to senior vice president of reservoir engineering and economics. Farquharson is to oversee the corporate reservoir engineering as well as the long-range planning function. Ralph Tijerina has been promoted to vice president of safety and environmental. Mark Whitley, promoted to senior vice president of the Northern Appalachia and Southwest Division, is to continue to oversee operations of the Marcellus Shale along with Range activities in Texas and New Mexico.

The shale rocks that are reconfiguring the North American energy landscape eventually will be unearthed around the world, albeit at a much slower pace, but the economic impacts will be gigantic, an ExxonMobil Corp. executive said Tuesday.

Even though its home country of France has nixed shale gas and oil exploration, Paris-based Total will continue to seek unconventional resources, a spokesman told NGI’s Shale Daily. Total sees gas as a major player on the world’s energy stage over the next 20 years.

Natural gas will play an ever-expanding role over the next decade to meet the energy needs of New Brunswick (NB), according to a 10-year energy plan unveiled by the New Brunswick Department of Energy on Wednesday.