Transformation

Peter Voser, who has led the transformation of Royal Dutch Shell plc from an also-ran in the energy industry into Europe’s leading producer and the world’s largest integrated natural gas operator, announced his surprise retirement last Thursday.

Peter Voser, who has led the transformation of Royal Dutch Shell plc from an also-ran in the energy industry into Europe’s leading producer and the world’s largest integrated natural gas operator, announced his surprise retirement on Thursday.

A final evaluation by Nebraska environmental officials is expected during early January regarding TransCanada Corp.’s alternative route for its proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline to avoid environmentally sensitive areas in the Sand Hills region of the state.

Last year saw a transformation at Houston-based Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. as the company shifted from deriving its revenue mostly from natural gas to an equal reliance upon revenue from oil production, CEO Chip Johnson told financial analysts Tuesday. “We expect this trend to continue for the entire year of 2012 as we become increasingly weighted toward oil production,” he said.

After rebranding itself last year and finishing a transformation into “a significant resource play company,” SM Energy Co. plans to step up development in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas and the Bakken-Three Forks formation while it hopes to sell down Eagle Ford assets, secure a joint venture (JV) partner in the Haynesville Shale and exit the Marcellus Shale.

After rebranding itself last year and finishing a transformation into “a significant resource play company,” SM Energy Co. plans to step up development in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas and the Bakken-Three Forks formation while it hopes to sell down Eagle Ford assets, secure a joint venture (JV) partner in the Haynesville Shale and exit the Marcellus Shale.

California has expanded its statewide solar initiative, the million solar roofs program now in its fourth year, with a thermal-based program supported by $350 million for residential and business customer rebates. The state’s major retail natural gas and electric utilities are implementing the new part of the California Solar Initiative (CSI).

Likening it to the transformation of the bodybuilding industry more than three decades ago, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said environmentalists and the environmental movement have improved their image, and they are getting more help and respect as a result. The former world bodybuilding legend and movie action figure made the comparison at a United Nations (UN) meeting in New Zealand via satellite last Tuesday.

Likening it to the transformation of the bodybuilding industry more than three decades ago, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said environmentalists and the environmental movement have improved their image, and they are getting more help and respect as a result. The former world bodybuilding legend and movie action figure made the comparison at a United Nations (UN) meeting in New Zealand via satellite Tuesday.