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A preliminary analysis released last Friday by state and federal energy officials has recast doubts about the future of a $4 billion project that involves what would be California’s first commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility slated for the state’s oil patch in the southern end of the central valley west of Bakersfield.

Physical natural gas prices on average gained a penny in trading for Tuesday deliveries, but California prices soared as next-day power made huge weather-driven gains. Northeast locations were also strong, but many market hubs were flat to within a couple of pennies higher or lower.

Increased interstate cooperative projects on everything from bigger oil production to modernization of the natural gas pipeline infrastructure are all part of a 10-year energy plan unveiled Sunday by the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) at the conclusion of its three-day annual meeting in Park City, UT.

The Macondo well blowout spilled much less oil than the U.S. government estimates of 4.9 million bbl, according to a reservoir engineering expert hired by operator BP plc.

Natural gas is a critical part of Colorado’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, and it is encouraging its increased development, including the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), in a safe and responsible way that can be managed between government and industry, said Gov. John Hickenlooper as part of a Western Governors’ Association (WGA) three-part energy report (see related item).

Alberta natural gas royalties, a health benchmark of the Canadian supply industry, plunged to their lowest level in a generation in the government fiscal year that ended March 31.

A FERC administrative law judge (ALJ) initial decision has found that the fuel tracking provisions for Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (REX) are not just and reasonable, recommended refunds to shippers of $22.2 million, and endorsed an alternative to the existing tracker, which was found to be overly complex and almost impossible to monitor.

Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) said Monday it will demolish its 1,205 MW oil-fired Port Everglades Power Plant in Port Everglades, FL, on July 16 to make room for a new facility to be fueled by U.S. natural gas. The company called the move one more step toward its goal of energy independence.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) late last Friday filed its second annual report to state regulators summarizing its progress on current and future work aimed at improving its natural gas system’s safety as mandated by a state law (SB 705) passed in 2011 in response to the 2010 San Bruno transmission pipeline failure. Under its pipeline safety enhancement plan, PG&E told the California Public Utilities Commission that it has strength-tested 456 miles of its 6,750-mile gas transmission pipeline system. The utility said its has installed 76 automated shutoff valves on critical parts of the system while validating the safe operating pressure for the entire system. In addition, the utility said it is pursuing an internationally recognized gas safety certification for its system called “Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 55”; it also has established an employee-led company wide, grassroots safety committee to promote safe work habits, best practices and open communications; and it has a new Corrective Action Program to collect and act on gas system issues and ideas though a central internal company processing center. In addition, PG&E said its ongoing gas safety plan overall has been reviewed by several outside parties and includes input from employees at all levels of the PG&E gas operations organization.