Signing

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell was close to signing the state’s budget into law Friday, minus a tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The appropriations portion of the budget, still being negotiated Friday afternoon, was expected to include a plan to lease more state forest land to gas drillers.

Signing its second agreement in just over a month, Kitimat LNG Inc. and energy multinational Gas Natural have reached a deal under which Gas Natural intends to acquire up to 30% of production from Kitimat LNG’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Bish Cove, BC. The deal also provides Gas Natural with an option to purchase an equity stake in the Kitimat LNG terminal.

Signing its second agreement in just over a month, Kitimat LNG Inc. and energy multinational GAS NATURAL have reached a deal under which GAS NATURAL intends to acquire up to 30% of production from Kitimat LNG’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Bish Cove, BC. The deal also provides GAS NATURAL with an option to purchase an equity stake in the Kitimat LNG terminal.

Opponents of Colorado’s revamped natural gas and oil drilling rules last week took a swipe at Gov. Bill Ritter for officially signing the rules into law — even though they would have taken effect without his signature.

Opponents of Colorado’s revamped natural gas and oil drilling rules on Wednesday took a swipe at Gov. Bill Ritter for officially signing the rules into law — even though they would have taken effect without his signature.

Clean fuel advocates in the utility and merchant energy sectors Tuesday lauded California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing a new law to help implement the state’s low-carbon fuel standard (AB 118), authored by his political ally in the state legislature, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.

The Long Beach (CA) municipal gas utility is close to signing a 30-year, $900 million natural gas pre-pay contract with Merrill Lynch Commodities Inc. that could satisfy up to 90% of its annual load, the general manager for the city’s utility department told NGI.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners said subsidiary Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP has enlarged its expansion plans for its East Texas and Mississippi pipeline projects after signing binding long-term agreements with shippers. The expansions will bring 1.5 Bcf/d of East Texas gas production from the Carthage Hub to pipeline connections in Perryville, LA, and Jackson, MS.

Royal Dutch Shell plc appears to sneaking into one of the largest new natural gas plays in the United States, after quietly signing a series of transactions in 2005 to explore about 70,000 acres of the Fayetteville Shale in north-central Arkansas. Shell is the first major to enter the region, following independents that include Southwestern Energy Co., which considers the play its bread and butter.