Standard

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) last Monday said it has revised its outlook for Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL) to “negative” from “stable” in the wake of FERC’s initiation of a Section 5 investigation to determine whether the pipeline may be overrecovering its costs, making rates to customers no longer just and reasonable.

The midstream energy sector is a different and potentially darker place than it was in 2007 and early 2008, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P). Although the credit market turmoil that began with the demise of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 has moderated, S&P said it believes the effects of the credit crisis will continue to define the risks and opportunities for the midstream sector next year.

The midstream energy sector is a different and potentially darker place than it was in 2007 and early 2008, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P). Although the credit market turmoil that began with the demise of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 has moderated, S&P said it believes the effects of the credit crisis will continue to define the risks and opportunities for the midstream sector next year.

U.S. receipt terminal operators may be buoyed by the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) announcement last Monday that it was giving an “A” credit rating to the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction facilities in Qatar, which could become an increasingly important supplier to the United States. S&P placed a “stable” outlook on the Qatari government and ExxonMobil joint venture developing LNG processing infrastructure, Ras Laffan LNG Co.

U.S. receipt terminal operators may be buoyed by the Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) announcement Monday that it was giving an “A” credit rating to the expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction facilities in Qatar, which could become an increasingly important supplier to the United States. S&P placed a “stable” outlook on the Qatari government and ExxonMobil joint venture developing LNG processing infrastructure, Ras Laffan LNG Co.

Energy analysts have begun to write off any hope for natural gas prices moving higher this year, but some see signs of recovery by early 2010.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tuesday granted California a waiver to enforce a state greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standard for new motor vehicles, beginning with the current model year. Environmentalists and state officials immediately lauded the much-anticipated move by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson (see Daily GPI, April 20).

While otherwise positive toward a utility bond sale, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services on Friday reiterated its distaste for Sempra Energy’s purchase last year of EnergySouth for its storage plays in the Gulf of Mexico region. It assigned a negative outlook to Sempra utility San Diego Gas and Electric Co.’s (SDG&E) “A+” rated sale of $176.26 million industrial development revenue refunding bonds as fixed-rate instruments to refund bonds sold five years ago.

America’s current recession is the worst since the 1930s and “the most synchronized” with failing markets worldwide, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) David Wyss, chief economist, told reporters last Monday. Unfortunately for natural gas producers, it also coincides with the blossoming of the nation’s unconventional gas resource base.