Ruling

Over the objections of state regulators and consumer advocate and power groups, FERC has upheld a ruling in a November 2006 order that allows the agency to override permit denials by state regulators to promote construction of electric transmission facilities in a national corridor.

Ruling that Progress Energy Florida (PEF) was simply enhancing the reliability of its fuel supply, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has granted the utility permission to recover the costs associated with transporting new supplies of domestic natural gas. The utility said it plans to enter into a series of agreements to move gas on a proposed pipeline known as the Southeast Supply Header (SESH).

Ruling that Progress Energy Florida (PEF) was simply enhancing the reliability of its fuel supply, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday granted the utility permission to recover the costs associated with transporting new supplies of domestic natural gas. The utility said it plans to enter into a series of agreements to move gas on a proposed pipeline known as the Southeast Supply Header (SESH).

While waiting on a ruling from the National Energy Board (NEB) on plans to convert part of its gas pipeline system to transport oil, TransCanada Corp. moved ahead with an application last week for construction of the Canadian portion of the Keystone oil pipeline, which would includes the coverted line. TransCanada expects the new pipeline system, which would transport crude oil from Hardisty, AB, to refineries in the U.S. Midwest, to be placed in service in late 2009.

While waiting on a ruling from the National Energy Board (NEB) on plans to convert part of its gas pipeline system to transport oil, TransCanada Corp. moved ahead with an application this week for construction of the Canadian portion of the Keystone oil pipeline. TransCanada expects the pipeline, which would transport crude oil from Hardisty, AB, to refineries in the U.S. Midwest, to be placed in service in late 2009.

In a sweeping decision Wednesday, a federal judge in San Francisco reinstated Clinton-era protections for nearly 60 million acres of national forest lands. The ruling voided the Bush administration’s petition process for potentially opening vast areas of remote national forest lands to road building, a necessary prerequisite for energy development and other commercial activities.

In denying a summary judgement motion of the proposed Millennium Pipeline, a federal court in Washington, DC Friday affirmed a 2003 ruling by the Commerce Department that cleared the way for New York State to block the construction of the 700 MMcf/d pipeline project from Lake Erie to New York City.

Questar Corp. said Tuesday a ruling by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will allow it to produce an additional 8 Bcf of gas next year from its Pinedale Anticline leasehold in western Wyoming. That’s enough gas to heat about 96,000 average American homes for one year.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said Thursday that it is seeking a court ruling to compel McGraw Hill to turn over natural gas transaction data. The agency filed an application with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking enforcement of a subpoena it issued in April.