Seek

While a breakthrough in aboriginal relations is about to dismantle a long-standing political obstacle against natural gas production and pipeline development in the Northwest Territories, the Canadian government and the industry stand warned that the problem of accessing native territory and rights could escalate.

NRG Energy Inc. last week said that it has reached a settlement with all seven former executives who filed an involuntary Chapter 11 petition against NRG late in 2002. The Xcel Energy subsidiary will ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota to approve the settlement and dismiss the petition.

Energy companies that seek FERC clearance to issue debt backed by public utility assets must use the debt proceeds strictly for utility purposes, according to an order issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last Thursday.

Energy companies that seek FERC clearance to issue debt backed by public utility assets must use the debt proceeds strictly for utility purposes, according to an order issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Thursday.

Pinnacle LNG, Inc., a subsidiary of AGL Resources, has announced an open season from Feb. 18 to March 14, 2003 to seek natural gas storage and terminal service customers for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant located in Trussville, AL, and connected to the Southern Natural Gas mainline.

Two Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) pipeline affiliates have asked FERC for the green light to broaden an already-certificated project and to build a loop expansion to increase transportation service to “two high-growth areas” — the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.

Two Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) pipeline affiliates have asked FERC for the green light to broaden an already-certificated project and to build a loop expansion to increase transportation service to “two high-growth areas” — the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin (R-LA) last week called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct an expedited review of ways to raise the level of “transparency and validity” of published natural gas prices and market data, including available supply, demand, pipeline and production information, in order to restore confidence in domestic markets.

Referring to El Paso Natural Gas as “perhaps the most dysfunctional pipeline system in the U.S.,” a group of natural gas producers and marketers last week called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conclude “all major, pending regulatory matters” related to the Texas-to-California pipeline system on “the most expedited basis possible.”