The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday approved four key energy nominations: Tony Clark, former chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Committee, to sit on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; FERC Commissioner John Norris for a full five-year term on the Commission ending mid-2017; Adam Sieminski, former chief energy economist for Deutsche Bank, to be administrator of the Energy Information Administration; and Marcilynn Burke to be assistant secretary of the Department of Interior with oversight of the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement. Burke’s nomination was sent to the Senate floor for confirmation, despite the fact that all Republicans on the committee voted against it, a Republican aide said. He noted that a Republican hold could be placed on Burke’s nomination on the Senate floor.
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Group Calls for Continuing Work on Pennsylvania Regulations
As Pennsylvania worked toward overhauling environmental rules for shale development in February, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) said “while this legislation is not perfect, the people of Pennsylvania are better served by passage of this bill now than to wait another year or longer for something stronger.”
People
President Obama will nominate Tony Clark, who is currently chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC), to become FERC Commissioner, the White House said. Clark, a Republican, has served at the PSC since 2000. He is the immediate past president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1994 to 1997. He holds bachelor’s degrees from North Dakota State University and a master’s of public administration from the University of North Dakota. If approved by the Senate, Clark would join Chairman Jon Wellinghoff and Commissioners Philip Moeller, John Norris and Cheryl LaFleur at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Marc Spitzer, a Republican, stepped down last month after completing a five-year term on the Commission (see NGI, Dec. 19, 2011). Spitzer’s departure left the Commission with three Democrats (Wellinghoff, Norris and LaFleur) and one Republican (Moeller). According to FERC rules, his successor must be a Republican or an independent.
Obama Looks to North Dakota for New FERC Commissioner
President Obama will nominate Tony Clark, who is currently chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC), to become FERC Commissioner, the White House said Monday.
People
Former BP plc CEO Tony Hayward, as well as former exploration chief Andy Inglis, have scored prominent positions in two energy firms. Vallares plc, an energy fund vehicle backed by Hayward and a group of high-profile investors, raised US$2.2 billion in an initial public offering, which is one-third more than the original target. Vallares, to be based in London, is sponsored by Hayward and financiers Nathaniel Rothschild, Tom Daniel and Julian Metherell, who is the former UK CEO for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The company plans to buy an emerging-market energy firm or an energy asset with an enterprise value of US$4.85-12.9 billion, the sponsors said. Inglis has been tapped to run Petrofac plc’s new integrated energy services (IES) division.
SM Energy Targets Eagle Ford, Ponders Haynesville
Like its peer Petrohawk Energy Corp. (see related story), SM Energy Co. is focusing more on the Eagle Ford. Plans for its Haynesville holdings are evolving.
Hayward Out; Spill Fixer Dudley In as BP CEO
BP plc CEO Tony Hayward will step down to be replaced by current BP Managing Director Robert Dudley on Oct. 1, the company said last week. Dudley will be the first American to lead the UK-based company, which has seen its image in the United States all but destroyed following the blowout of its Macondo well, causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
Hayward Out; Spill Fixer Dudley In as BP CEO
BP plc CEO Tony Hayward will step down to be replaced by current BP Managing Director Robert Dudley on Oct. 1, the company said Tuesday. Dudley will be the first American to lead the UK-based company, which has seen its image in the United States all but destroyed following the blowout of its Macondo well, causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
BP, Anadarko Trade Barbs Over Responsibility
Last Thursday — the 59th day of the continuing Macondo well disaster in the Gulf of Mexico — BP plc CEO Tony Hayward took a tongue lashing from House lawmakers during a subcommittee hearing that shed little if any light on what caused the nation’s worst environmental catastrophe. Not long after, BP was blasted by well partner Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
Hayward’s Grilling by House Lawmakers Yields Little Insight
On the 59th day of the ongoing Macondo well disaster in the Gulf of Mexico BP plc CEO Tony Hayward took a tongue lashing from House lawmakers during a subcommittee hearing that shed little if any light on what caused the nation’s worst environmental catastrophe.
