Senate

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has recommended that the White House nominate another westerner for an open seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has recommended that the White House nominate another westerner for an open seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on Tuesday expressed support for a strong federal role balanced by state input in siting import terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the wake of an industry report that warned that gas prices could double to $13.76/MMBtu by 2020 if policy makers do not quickly take steps to increase and diversify supply.

Expanding upon its testimony Monday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on dampening price volatility and improving storage surveying methods (see Daily GPI, Jan. 25), AEP’s written comments to the committee went a little further.

Congress has clarified that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not the states, has exclusive jurisdiction over the approval and siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Congress over the weekend clarified that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not the states, has exclusive jurisdiction over the approval and siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Congress over the weekend clarified that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not the states, has exclusive jurisdiction over the approval and siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

With the assumption that the governor will sign the bill into law, California’s state Senate Monday unanimously okayed a final bailout for Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a law authorizing the utility to refinance part of its debt backed by a retail utility rate revenue stream. The so-called “dedicated rate component” is estimated to lower the overall cost of the PG&E utility’s financial reorganization by about $1 billion.

The Arizona Senate last week unanimously voted to ban development of salt dome gas storage facilities within nine miles of a military airport, which places a significant roadblock in front of El Paso Corp.’s proposed 10 Bcf Copper Eagle Gas Storage project.