Wind

Modest power demand growth, the rise of renewable energy, particularly wind, and a slug of new coal-fired capacity hitting the market over the next couple of years will pressure gas-fired generation, according to analysts.

Modest power demand growth and the rise of renewable energy, particularly wind, could signal the end of the boom times for gas-fired power generation, analysts at Barclays Capital said in a research note.

Citing forecasts of “extremely cold wind chill factor temperatures,” Northern Natural Gas implemented a System Overrun Limitation for all market-area zones (ABC, D and E/F) Saturday. Allowable System Management Service was set at zero in all three zones.

The Senate began debate Thursday on a Finance Committee economic stimulus package that would provide a one-year extension of renewable wind and solar tax credits.

With some key terms in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) ill-defined or not defined at all, FERC and the natural gas industry are more than likely to wind up in court in the months and years ahead squaring off over what Congress intended in the provisions that seemingly give the agency greater jurisdictional and anti-manipulation authority, said a top FERC attorney.

With some key terms in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) ill-defined or not defined at all, FERC and the natural gas industry are more than likely to wind up in court in the months and years ahead squaring off over what Congress intended in the provisions that seemingly give the agency greater jurisdictional and anti-manipulation authority, said a top FERC attorney.

While electric utilities scramble to keep up with the wind-whipped wildfires’ continuing fury Wednesday, the natural gas distribution and transmission operations of Sempra Energy’s two utilities in Southern California have remained mostly unscathed, according to spokespersons for the two utilities, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas Co. (SDG&E).

April natural gas futures threw caution to the wind and jumped higher in active trading Thursday, building on Wednesday’s formidable rally. April futures Thursday rose 16 cents to $7.320, and the May contract added 17 cents to $7.435. May crude oil futures vaulted $2.08 to $61.69/bbl.

BP plc, with long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets in place and plans to invest $8 billion in solar, wind, hydrogen and other clean-energy technologies in the next 10 years, received top scores among 100 companies that are working to develop climate-friendly technologies, according to Ceres, a Boston-based investor coalition.