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BP plc has signed up for second train liquefaction capacity with Freeport LNG Expansion LP under a binding 20-year liquefaction tolling agreement (LTA), Freeport said Monday.

Regina Hopper, president and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), one of the top lobbying groups for natural gas in Washington, DC, has resigned effective Feb. 28 under pressure from the board. “The ANGA board was extremely disappointed with her performance,” and several senior staff members have recently left, a knowledgeable source told NGI. Hopper has been at the helm of ANGA, which represents leading producers, since 2009 (see NGI, March 2, 2009). ANGA Chairman and Apache Corp. CEO G. Steven Farris commended Hopper’s performance and said she had “led ANGA’s growth from its infancy into its becoming an important voice in the discussion around fuel diversity and economic growth for our nation. We are grateful for her service, for the strong organization she leaves behind, and we wish her much success in her future endeavors.” ANGA now is searching for a successor. “I was hired to build an effective and powerful advocacy organization with strong fiscal management,” Hopper said. “By all accounts we have achieved these important objectives.”

Regina Hopper, president and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), one of the top lobbying groups for natural gas in Washington, DC, resigned effective Feb. 28 under pressure from the board.

Two polls show New Yorkers remain evenly split on the issue of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), but one poll shows opponents of the practice could cause more political damage to Gov. Andrew Cuomo if it ultimately is approved.

Production from North American shale plays will continue to keep natural gas prices from increasing significantly any time soon, Royal Dutch Shell plc CEO Peter Voser told financial analysts in London Thursday.

FERC has extended until Feb. 12 the deadline for comments on its notice of inquiry (NOI) on whether to require quarterly reporting of jurisdictional next-day and next-month transactions under the Natural Gas Act in order to increase transparency in the wholesale natural gas market.

Physical gas prices Wednesday gained on average by 11 cents overall, but if the volatile East is included, the rise was just under 18 cents. Gains were widespread with only a handful of points recording losses.

FERC has extended until Feb. 12 the deadline for comments on its notice of inquiry (NOI) on whether to require quarterly reporting of jurisdictional next-day and next-month transactions under the Natural Gas Act in order to increase transparency in the wholesale natural gas market.

Consol Energy Inc. announced Friday that it would begin shifting its Utica Shale program in Noble County, OH, from exploration to development mode, after seeing encouraging results and data from its test wells and those of its competitors in the play.