Tapped

Before the prolific but unexplored deepwater basins offshore Nova Scotia can be tapped, the players will have to ask themselves what comes first: the chicken or the egg? Or, in energy terms, will there be gas wells or pipelines first? To answer that question and overcome the considerable challenges in the region, producers and pipeline operators will need to work together establish a regional infrastructure before production actually can begin, an industry executive said Tuesday in Houston.

Charles River Associates Inc. (CRA) has been chosen by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) to analyze the interactions between natural gas and electricity systems within the state. Among other things, CRA will examine whether existing pipelines will be able to handle the increased flow of gas required by proposed power plants in the state.

The White House publicly confirmed yesterday what has been rumored for months — that Commissioner Pat Wood III will be the next chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

With the record levels of rig activity finally realizing an increase in natural gas supply, it is possible if the trend continues to see “a prolonged period of ‘weak’ natural gas prices” in the $2-3 range, according to Thomas Driscoll of Lehman Brothers. Supply growth, the current natural gas storage overhang, and weak demand could also lead to “lackluster” exploration and production share-price performance, the analyst warned.

Rebecca Armendariz Klein has been tapped to fill the last vacant spot on the Texas Public Utilities Commission by Gov. Rick Perry. Armendariz Klein currently is a consultant with KPMG Consulting and served as general government policy director under George W. Bush when he was governor. She also has worked as a senior attorney for the Texas PUC and as a telecommunications law analyst for the American Enterprise Institute. Perry also announced that Mario Max Yzaguirre, named two weeks ago to the Texas PUC, will become the new chairman of the three-member panel.

FERC Chairman Curt Hebert Jr. last week tapped Kevin P. Madden,a well-known and popular official at the Commission, to be generalcounsel. He succeeds Doug Smith, who left the Commission on Friday.Madden has held a number of posts during his 21-year tenure atFERC, most recently as deputy director of the Office of Markets,Tariffs and Rates. Prior to that, he had been director of theOffice of Pipeline Regulation since 1988. He also served as anattorney adviser and trial attorney in the Office of GeneralCounsel during his years at FERC. “I chose Mr. Madden from a largefield of potential candidates both outside and within theCommission. His contributions will be crucial to our futureachievements, especially during this critical juncture of electricmarkets,” Hebert said.

FERC Chairman Curt Hebert Jr. last week tapped Kevin P. Madden,a well-known and popular official at the Commission, to be generalcounsel. He succeeds Doug Smith, who left the Commission on Friday.

The Bush White House tapped Commissioner Curt L. Hebert Jr. asits chairman, according to an announcement by the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission yesterday.

Conoco subsidiary, Conoco Global Power (CGP) has tappedsubsidiaries of NRG Energy to help own and operate SRW CogenerationLP, and its holdings. NRG Energy purchased a 50% stake in thecompany at an undisclosed cost. Currently, the partnership owns,and will operate a $260 million power facility near Orange, TX, nowunder construction.