General Interest 2001 P

08/30/2001 -- State lawmakers ask EPA not to delay or weaken clean diesel rule
Environmental groups Thursday praised a state lawmaker group for calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency not to weaken or delay standards that would dramatically lower the sulfur standard in diesel fuel. Refiners have filed suit to block the EPA diesel sulfur rule, saying it could cost too much money and lead to fuel shortages.
08/29/2001 -- California group threatens legal action over direct access end
California's Alliance for Retail Energy Markets Wednesday threatened legal action if state regulators retroactively suspend retail choice, effectively abrogating existing contracts. The organization made up of nonutility marketers said it will seek 'immediate injunctive relief' to prevent application of any action by the California Public Utilities Commission that would retroactively end direct access effective July 1.
08/29/2001 -- Poland to buy natural gas from Norway, pending pipeline deal
State-owned Polish Oil & Gas Co. and Norway's Gas Negotiating Committee have agreed on terms for delivery of 74 billion cu m of Norwegian gas over 16 years. The deal would require construction of a pipeline from Norway to Poland.
08/29/2001 -- Cairn India signs Lakshmi gas contracts
UK oil and gas company Cairn Energy signed two gas sales contracts for its Lakshmi gas field development off Gujarat, India. The British company contracted to sell 70 MMcfd of gas over 3 years to Gujarat Powergen Corp. and 45 MMcfd over 5 years to BG subsidiary Gujarat Gas Co.
08/28/2001 -- Can't default on generator bills, Southern California Edison says
Fending off prodding by some debt holders, Southern California Edison Co. said all its creditors, including the independent generators, should be paid past due bills incurred by the utility. Ted Craver, chief financial officer of Edison International, parent of Southern California, also conceded a California Public Utilities Commission proposal would shift $500 million in costs to Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s customers from Edison.
08/28/2001 -- EPA lifts restrictions to ease Midwest gasoline shortage
The US Environmental Protection Agency temporarily eased summertime emissions restrictions Tuesday to channel more reformulated gasoline into the fuel-short markets of Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis.
08/28/2001 -- Calpine unaffected by aftermath of California crisis, execs say
Calpine Corp. said it is emerging from the California energy crisis with no overhanging issues in a conference call with financial analysts Tuesday. The company sold most of its electricity portfolio in California forward before electricity prices fell, and executives said they were confident Gov. Gray Davis will not renegotiate those long-term contracts.
08/28/2001 -- Alliance RTO selects UK's National Grid as operator
The Alliance Regional Transmission Organization Tuesday said it selected a unit of the UK's National Grid Group PLC to be operator of the proposed $12 billion independent Midwest electric transmission company, subject to regulatory approval. The preliminary agreement calls for National Grid to contribute $75 million to the Alliance RTO.
08/28/2001 -- Enron promotes two veterans to top posts
Following the surprise resignation of Jeff Skilling as CEO and president 2 weeks ago, Enron Corp. Tuesday promoted two company veterans from its wholesale services group to help lead the Houston energy giant. Greg Whalley was named president and chief operating officer, and Mark Frevert, vice-chairman.
08/27/2001 -- California generators complain of not getting paid again
California independent electricity generators and others have not been paid for power delivered to the state's independent system grid operator for 3 consecutive months in violation of a federal order, an organization representing the group said.
08/27/2001 -- Pakistan awards exploration license to POGC
Pakistan granted a petroleum exploration license to a joint venture of Polish Oil & Gas Co. (95%) and Government Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd., (5%) for Block No 2869-10 (Sabzal South). The companies will spend $4 million on oil and gas exploration covering the 702 sq km block in Rahim Yar Khan district in Punjab province and Sukkur district in Sindh province.
08/27/2001 -- Slumping prices don't deter electric producers' construction plans
Paul Posoli, senior vice-president Calpine Energy Services, says falling electricity prices won't change his company's robust outlook for energy.
08/24/2001 -- Southern California Edison denies buyout bid
Southern California Edison Co. Friday said the financially ailing utility is not for sale and debunked published reports of a take over by City Light & Power Inc., Long Beach, Calif. Reports circulated early Friday City Light intended to launch an unsolicited bid as early as Monday for Southern California Edison and its parent Edison International, Rosemead, Calif.
08/24/2001 -- FERC's Massey calls for strict electricity market oversight
With electricity regulation moving from cost-based prices to market performance, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's emphasis must shift to use of more analytical tools, said Commissioner William Massey. He called for 'tough-minded' investigation and correction of market flaws.
08/24/2001 -- Expro, FMC Technologies sign cooperation agreement
Expro International Group PLC and FMC Technologies Inc., an affiliate of FMC Corp., signed a global cooperation agreement.
08/24/2001 -- US wants changes to UN oil-for-aid contracts
The US is urging the United Nations to consider shortening the contract cycle of the Iraq oil-for-aid program to 15 days instead of 30 to make it harder for Iraq to circumvent tight revenue controls that give the country little say in how petrodollars are spent. Iraq opposes changes the monthly contract cycle.
08/24/2001 -- NRG stands pat on 2001 earnings outlook
Independent power producer NRG Energy Inc. Friday said it stands by its outlook earlier this summer earnings for 2001 will be $1.35/share. The Minneapolis, Minn., company has not altered its outlook despite the falling forward power prices that have unnerved the industry lately sending stock prices down drastically since May.
08/24/2001 -- CITGO asks US to consider options for alleviating Midwest fuel problems
Midwest refiner CITGO Petroleum Corp. Thursday said it is asking US regulators to take action to ensure there are no supply problems in the region this fall while repairs are made to its 158,650 b/d Lemont, Ill., refinery that was damaged in a fire. Repairs could take 5 to 6 months.
08/24/2001 -- Market watch: Robust demand buoys oil futures prices
International energy futures prices rose Thursday, pushed by tight supplies of gasoline and agricultural diesel in the Midwest US, where harvests are pending. The October contract for benchmark US light, sweet crudes gained 26¢ to $26.63/bbl on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
08/24/2001 -- The policy cop
In an atmosphere of increasing partisanship, the nonpartisan General Accounting Office has been thrown into the public spotlight because of volatile energy debates in Washington, DC.

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General Interest 2001 P