Speak

Attorneys on both sides of the legal battle over Act 13, Pennsylvania’s omnibus Marcellus Shale law, spent two hours in a packed Pittsburgh courtroom Wednesday giving oral arguments before the state Supreme Court.

Although a shale-produced natural gas surplus remains, it is at a lower level than many expected and thus a couple of drivers could send prices back into a period of volatility, according to Jim Duncan, chief analyst and commodity market strategist for ConocoPhillips in Houston.

Without any real cold temperatures to speak of in the markets that matter, December natural gas futures pushed lower for most of Wednesday’s regular session and entered a price gap that was created almost two months ago. The prompt-month contract closed at $4.254, down 27.6 cents from Tuesday’s finish.

Natural gas pipeline interests have an opportunity to speak up during the current discussion of expanding FERC authority for siting interstate electric transmission, according to Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) President Donald Santa. While the Natural Gas Act is seen as a potential model for electric transmission policy, pipelines should point out where it doesn’t work, Santa told a Houston audience last Wednesday.

Natural gas pipeline interests have an opportunity to speak up during the current discussion of expanding FERC authority for siting interstate electric transmission, according to Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) President Donald Santa. While the Natural Gas Act is seen as a potential model for electric transmission policy, pipelines should point out where it doesn’t work, Santa told a Houston audience Wednesday.

The U.S. needs to “speak with one voice” when it comes to approving and regulating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals, and that “one voice” is found in the federal government, two gas industry associations told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Wednesday in an amicus brief filed in support of FERC in its jurisdictional battle with the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC).

The U.S. needs to “speak with one voice” when it comes to approving and regulating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals, and that “one voice” is found in the federal government, two gas industry associations told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Wednesday in an amicus brief filed in support of FERC in its jurisdictional battle with the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC).

Major policymakers will speak about national energy policy issues at a major conference on Sept. 24 to be hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Scheduled speakers will include FERC Chairman Pat Wood, Rep. W.J. “Billy” Tauzin (R-LA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The conference, “Energy Summit 2002, Ensuring America’s Energy Supply,” will run from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.at the Chamber headquarters, located at 1615 H St. NW. For further information, parties should contract Chris Merida at (202) 463-5648 or go to www.uschamber.com. Chamber members will be charged $325 to attend the event; non-members, $425. The price at the door will be $500.

Major policymakers will speak about national energy policy issues at a major conference on Tuesday (Sept. 24) to be hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Scheduled speakers will include FERC Chairman Pat Wood, Rep. W.J. “Billy” Tauzin (R-LA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The conference, “Energy Summit 2002, Ensuring America’s Energy Supply,” will run from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Chamber headquarters, located at 1615 H St. NW. For further information, parties should contract Chris Merida at (202) 463-5648 or go to www.uschamber.com. Chamber members will be charged $325 to attend the event; non-members, $425. The price at the door will be $500.