Targeting

Aquila said it is targeting its energy risk management expertise at the ailing fertilizer industry, which has suffered tremendously over the past two years from volatile natural gas prices. Natural gas can account for up to 80% of a fertilizer product’s costs.

‘Tis the season to spend money, and many of North America’s large and small producers are doing just that, dropping bonuses into the envelopes of newly expanded exploration and development programs for the coming year. In recent days, both U.S. and Canadian producers have announced visions of increased energy production next year, with most of the promise in domestic natural gas development.

Alberta Energy Co. Ltd. wants to buy or lease another U.S. natural gas storage facility, but is remaining mum on what region it is targeting and which companies it may be negotiating with. CEO Gwyn Morgan would only say last week that his company is negotiating to buy a storage unit for less than C$100 million, and hopes to complete the deal before year’s end.

Alberta Energy Co. Ltd. wants to buy or lease another U.S.natural gas storage facility, but is remaining mum on what regionit is targeting and which companies it may be negotiating with. CEOGwyn Morgan would only say last week that his company isnegotiating to buy a storage unit for less than C$100 million, andhopes to complete the deal before year’s end.

Duke Energy, which is targeting its strategy in U.S. growthmarkets, has zeroed in on the right side of the U.S. map, expectingpower generation there to surpass the rest of the country. Thenatural gas giant expects Florida to grow at a rate of 4.5%annually, the Southeast and Texas to grow at 3%; and the East Coastand Upper Midwest to reach 2.5%.

Communications projects are high on the list of announcementsand pronouncements at a Houston energy conference this week, withcompany executives telling analysts that the Internet, bandwidthand telecommunications may surpass traditional energy earnings inthe next decade.

Duke Energy, which is targeting its strategy in U.S. growthmarkets, has zeroed in on the right side of the U.S. map, expectingpower generation there to surpass the rest of the country. Thenatural gas giant expects Florida to grow at a rate of 4.5%annually, the Southeast and Texas to grow at 3%; and the East Coastand Upper Midwest to reach 2.5%.

Kinder Morgan’s Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL) andTexas Eastern Transmission (TETCO) are targeting the market thatwants to move gas east from Chicago with a reciprocal capacitylease arrangement. NGPL says the transportation service can beprovided with only one additional interconnect, so it is far morecost effective than the greenfield projects already proposed whichrequire massive construction.

The Coastal Corp.’s Colorado Interstate Gas Co. (CIG) istargeting a new power plant and local demand growth with a lateralto deliver gas along Colorado’s Front Range. The line would serve aplanned 478 MW power plant south of Colorado Springs.