Running

In a long-running battle with Texas regulators, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday disapproved the flexible permit program that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had submitted for inclusion in its clean air implementation plan. It is not clear whether the move could affect the operations of gas producers in the state’s prolific Barnett Shale, which underlies Dallas/Fort Worth, or if the EPA decision is a harbinger of regulations that could affect producers.

The practice of running U.S. business fleet vehicles on compressed natural gas (CNG) continues to gain momentum as evidenced by the deals being announced on almost a weekly basis. The latest involves Clean Energy Fuels Corp. subsidiary BAF, which has received an order from Verizon to convert 501 new Ford E-250 Series vans to CNG power.

The practice of running U.S. business fleet vehicles on compressed natural gas (CNG) continues to gain momentum as evidenced by the deals being announced on almost a weekly basis. The latest involves Clean Energy Fuels Corp. subsidiary BAF, which has received an order from Verizon to convert 501 new Ford E-250 Series vans to CNG power.

The practice of running U.S. business fleet vehicles on compressed natural gas (CNG) continues to gain momentum as evidenced by the deals being announced on almost a weekly basis. The latest involves Clean Energy Fuels Corp. subsidiary BAF, which has received an order from Verizon to convert 501 new Ford E-250 Series vans to CNG power.

After running higher prior to Monday’s regular trading session, the March natural gas futures contract peaked at $5.679 just a few minutes after the open before declining for the rest of the day. The prompt-month contract finished out the regular session at $5.401, down 11.4 cents from Friday’s close.

After running higher prior to Monday’s regular trading session, the March natural gas futures contract peaked at $5.679 just a few minutes after the open before declining for the rest of the day. The prompt-month contract finished out the regular session at $5.401, down 11.4 cents from Friday’s close.

Wall Street is running scared, and its concern over who is going to pay for the massive federal budget deficits extends to the energy industry.

Williams on Thursday lifted its full-year 2009 profit guidance and said it plans to up its spending in 2010 and 2011 as natural gas prices move “sharply higher.”

National Fuel Gas Co.’s exploration and production (E&P) business is another of many that have been running faster and making less. While production was up in the most recent quarter, earnings were down due to lower commodity prices.