Sponsors

A blueprint for a climate change and energy bill that sponsors hope will gain the 60 votes necessary to pass the Senate in 2010 was released Thursday by the three lawmakers who have been leading the charge for legislation: Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). Separately, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) on Friday unveiled a competing proposal to create a “cap and dividend” structure that would give dividends to U.S. taxpayers.

A proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility and marginal wharf project in Nova Scotia is closer to reality after sponsors Keltic Petrochemicals Inc. and Maple LNG Ltd. received another nod of approval from the province’s environment minister. The project, formerly named Keltic LNG, would provide 1 Bcf/d to a power plant and petrochemical complex in Goldsboro, NS. The C$5 billion complex last year received a favorable preliminary environmental review pending several conditions from the Nova Scotia Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) (see Daily GPI, Feb. 27, 2007). Nova Scotia Environment Minister John Baird said the project “is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.” Baird also oversees the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which administers the federal environmental assessment process. The project has been referred favorably to Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, for appropriate action. The environmental assessment decision was based on the “conclusions and recommendations” of the EAB, results of a public comment period and mitigation measures submitted by Maple, Baird said. Keltic Petrochemicals and Maple are proposing to construct and operate a marginal wharf, LNG marine terminal, transfer pipelines, LNG storage tanks and regasification facilities. LNG and feedstock materials will be shipped via the LNG marine terminal and marginal wharf. A copy of the decision may be found at www.ceaa.gc.ca under reference number 05-03-10471.

The start-up date for the western portion of the Rockies Express Pipeline, known as REX-West, has become a moving target. Sponsors are now projecting that service on the bulk of REX-West will begin on or about Jan. 12.

The start-up date for the western portion of the Rockies Express Pipeline, known as REX-West, has become a moving target. Sponsors are now projecting that service on the bulk of REX-West will begin on or about Jan. 12.

The plan by sponsors of the $1.27 billion, 500-mile long Midcontinent Express system to lease 500,000 Dth/d on the Enogex system in Oklahoma as part of their project has stirred up opposition from current Enogex customers that say the lease is discriminatory since they have been unable to get firm transportation on the intrastate line.

The plan by sponsors of the $1.27 billion, 500-mile long Midcontinent Express system to lease 500,000 Dth/d on the Enogex system in Oklahoma as part of their project has stirred up opposition from current Enogex customers who say the lease is discriminatory since they have been unable to get firm transportation on the intrastate line.

Sponsors of the beleaguered Islander East pipeline project apparently have not given up on the proposed Connecticut-to-Long Island pipeline. In a letter to FERC last Monday, Islander East said it plans to appeal within 40 days a recent federal court decision that many thought was a potentially fatal blow to the project.

Sponsors of the beleaguered Islander East pipeline project apparently have not given up on the proposed Connecticut-to-Long Island pipeline. In a letter to FERC Monday, Islander East said it plans to appeal within 40 days a federal court decision last month that many thought was a potentially fatal blow to the project.

In what its sponsors are calling an engineering marvel, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will begin Monday the key phase of a $56.9 million underground storage reliability upgrade. It involves what the utility is calling the longest 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline pull ever conducted in the West.