Split

As the deeply split state regulatory commission was holding its last acrimonious meeting Thursday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his choices for two seats on the five-member California Public Utilities Commission that become vacant the end of this month. The governor has chosen an energy efficiency advocate and a Silicon Valley-based telecommunications/information technology entrepreneur-turned-philanthropist.

As part of the six-week public comment period on a recently released favorable draft environmental impact assessment, local residents along the Southern California coast, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles turned out last week (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) at local meetings hosted by the city governments to express their views on the proposal of Australian resources giant BHP Billiton to develop an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Despite the developer’s promise of $25 million in annual economic benefits with no safety/environmental risks, most of the residents’ views were negative.

As part of the six-week public comment period on a recently released favorable draft environmental impact assessment, local residents along the Southern California coast, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles turned out last week (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) at local meetings hosted by the city governments to express their views on the proposal of Australian resources giant BHP Billiton to develop an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Despite the developer’s promise of $25 million in annual economic benefits with no safety/environmental risks, most of the residents’ views were negative.

As part of the six-week public comment period on a recently released favorable draft environmental impact assessment, local residents along the Southern California coast, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles turned out last week (Nov. 30-Dec. 3) at local meetings hosted by the city governments to express their views on the proposal of Australian resources giant BHP Billiton to develop an offshore liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Despite the developer’s promise of $25 million in annual economic benefits with no safety/environmental risks, most of the residents’ views were negative.

Key industry groups are divided over whether FERC should grant “blanket” market-based rate authority to independent storage developers to encourage the growth of more natural gas storage. But they all agree that if the Commission relaxes its market power test for new independent storage facilities, it should require greater accountability from them to shield customers from potential abuses.

Key industry groups are divided over whether FERC should grant “blanket” market-based rate authority to independent storage developers to encourage the growth of more natural gas storage. But they all agree that if the Commission relaxes its market power test for new independent storage facilities, it should require greater accountability from them to shield customers from potential abuses.

Key industry groups are divided over whether FERC should grant “blanket” market-based rate authority to independent storage developers to encourage the growth of more natural gas storage. But they all agree that if the Commission relaxes its market power test for new independent storage facilities, it should require greater accountability from them to shield customers from potential abuses.

On its usual split 3-2 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission Tuesday approved $7.4 million in general rate increases for Las Vegas, NV-based Southwest Gas Corp. for its natural gas distribution utility customers in the remote foothill and desert regions in the eastern side of the state. The action authorized $3.8 million for Southwest’s Northern California customers and $3.6 million in the southern half of the state.

On its usual split 3-2 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission Tuesday approved $7.4 million in general rate increases for Las Vegas, NV-based Southwest Gas Corp. for its natural gas distribution utility customers in the remote foothill and desert regions in the eastern side of the state. The action authorized $3.8 million for Southwest’s Northern California customers and $3.6 million in the southern half of the state.