Natural gas

Declines in U.S. Petroleum Consumption Expected to Continue

If you feel like you’ve been economizing by driving less and adjusting your thermostat more, you’re not alone. Total U.S. petroleum consumption reported in today’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) is once again lower than the same week last year.

Average monthly total petroleum consumption has now declined for 12 consecutive months when compared with the same month the year before. Within the last 25 years, we’ve identified 6 other 12-month periods during which there was a sustained drop in total petroleum consumption from the previous year.    » read more »

Gov. Palin Thanks Lawmakers for Energy Package

August, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today thanked state lawmakers for successfully addressing Alaskans’ energy needs in the recently completed special sessions, both in the short term by passing an energy relief package, and in the long term by authorizing a gasline license under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.

“The members of the Alaska Legislature worked honorably and diligently in the past two months to deal with these critical issues facing our state. I join with all Alaskans in recognizing and thanking them for their accomplishments,” Governor Palin said.

Resource Rebate and Energy    » read more »

Governor Lauds Decision

June 3, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today lauded the decision by the U.S. Energy Department to approve the application of Marathon Oil Corporation and ConocoPhillips for an extension of the Kenai Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant export license. The two companies filed for the extension in January 2007.

“In these times of economic uncertainty, this is great news for the state and its residents,” Governor Palin said. “This extension will secure a future for the LNG operation and is another step toward ensuring energy supplies and energy security for Alaska.”    » read more »

Statement of Aaron Colangelo, NRDC Senior Attorney

SAN FRANCISCO May 23, 2008 – A federal court struck down a rule exempting oil and gas development projects from pollution-prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in a case brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The decision will protect thousands of streams throughout the West from sediment contamination caused by energy exploration and development, according to NRDC.

Following is a statement by Aaron Colangelo, senior attorney at NRDC:    » read more »

LNG Options Still Available -- May 22, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin and Department of Revenue Commissioner Patrick Galvin today released the AGIA Findings and Determination of the natural gas pipeline project as proposed by TransCanada Alaska Company, LLC and Foothills Pipelines Ltd. (TC Alaska) to the State of Alaska.

The commissioners’ conclusion and analysis of the natural gas pipeline project proposed by TC Alaska is that it merits issuance of the AGIA license because it maximizes the benefits to Alaskans.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., May 14, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed a settled enforcement action charging Willbros Group, Inc. and four former employees with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), alleging that they paid more than $6 million in undisclosed bribes to Nigerian government officials and others to obtain significant contracts for the Houston-based company.    » read more »

Alaska Governor Pledges to Work for Conservation

May 14, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its decision today to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne called Alaska Governor Sarah Palin this morning to inform her of the USFWS decision, and assured her that oil and gas developments are not to blame.

Polar bear, Alaska: Photo by AlaskaPodshow.com (CC)    » read more »

Oregon Department of Energy reports there is a need for natural gas but LNG not the answer to meet that need

May 9, 2008 -- (Salem) – Today Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski received a report from the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) that concludes that while Oregon will need increased supplies of natural gas to meet the state’s energy needs, the proposed natural gas pipelines from the Rocky Mountains will be able to meet that increased demand.

The report also concludes that the proposed pipelines in the Rocky Mountains are more likely to provide less expensive natural gas and produce significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions than the three LNG facilities proposed in Oregon.    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) today urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to ensure adequate market protections for the trading of U.S. energy future contracts on international markets.

Oil refinery at sunset: Photo by LinBow (CC)

Senators Feinstein and Snowe have been the lead sponsors of legislation to help prevent manipulation, excessive speculation and fraud in electronic energy markets. Since 2000, the trading of electronic commodities, like oil or natural gas, has been exempt from federal regulation under the so-called “Enron Loophole.”    » read more »

Governor Opposes Broadwater, Outlines Steps to Meet Growing Energy Demand Cites Several Environmental and Safety Concerns with Broadwater

April 10, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today outlined the initial steps his administration will take to meet the growing demand for energy on Long Island and the New York City metropolitan region.

LNG dome: Photo by ariwriter (CC)    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today issued the following statement after the New York Department of State denied a coastal consistency permit for the Broadwater liquefied natural gas platform proposed for Long Island Sound:

“‘We did it!’

LNG tanker at night: Photo by chablis2008 (CC)

“Those are the words I used when we won the fight to save our sub base, and I have to tell you – it feels great to use them again today.

“We did it! We did it! We did it!

“Of course, we had a little help from our friends in New York.    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she strongly supports federal legislation co-sponsored by Connecticut U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joe Lieberman that would strip the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of its authority to site liquefied natural gas terminals and return that power to the states.

LNG burner: Photo by John Bullas (CC)    » read more »

31 March 2008 -- Japan's jobless rate has risen for the first time in five months, and Chevron Corporation has discovered large offshore natural gas deposits in Vietnam. Naomi Martig in Hong Kong has more on these and other business stories from the region.

Japan's unemployment rate has risen for the first time in five months, partly because exports to the United States fell. Japanese officials say the jobless rate rose to 3.9 percent in February, up from the 3.8 percent recorded the previous month.

Analysts say the increase is not worrisome, but that it does indicate that companies are concerned about hiring workers as they deal with rising costs and slower U.S. consumer spending.    » read more »

Legislature to Convene in Juneau on June 3

March 28, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today announced that AGIA findings will be presented to lawmakers the week of May 19. She also called the Legislature into a 30-day special session on June 3. The Executive Proclamation calls for legislators to review “any action taken by the commissioner of natural resources and the commissioner of revenue” under AGIA.    » read more »

March 18, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today applauded the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission’s announcement that C. Michael “Mike” Smith has been selected as executive director. Smith will be responsible for providing advocacy, coordination, education and strategy to the IOGCC’s 30 member and eight associate states on key domestic energy issues.    » read more »