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Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman has been announcing his intent to introduce a comprehensive energy bill within the next several months, focusing specifically on renewable energy development, biofuel production and infrastructure, and a renewable portfolio standard for electric utilities. The Senator’s staff has asked for INGAA’s advice on… Read More
Climate change is the issue-of-the-day for Congress, as numerous hearings get underway on the science surrounding climate change, and legislative solutions for addressing the problem. House Speaker Pelosi has put her Committee Chairmen on notice that a climate change bill is expected for House floor debate prior to July… Read More
On February 5, INGAA submitted comments to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, urging that a draft report to Congress by DOE and DOI continues to misinterpret the nature of tribal sovereignty and tribal authority under EPAct, underestimates the problems associated with negotiating renewal and new energy rights-of way across… Read More
INGAA is preparing to respond to FERC’s request for comments on secondary market (capacity release) issues raised in two pending petitions filed by PG&E and Coral Energy. PG&E is asking FERC to remove the existing cap (i.e., the pipeline’s maximum rate) on released capacity transactions. Coral Energy, joined by… Read More
INGAA is preparing comments in response to FERC’s January notice proposing permanent standards of conduct governing the relationship between transmission providers (both pipeline and public utility) and their affiliates. (FERC’s proposal responds to the court decision in National Fuel Gas, which vacated Order 2004.) As far as pipelines are… Read More
We look forward to a successful Midyear meeting at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines outside of Austin, TX on April 26-27. Registration has been robust and we anticipate a well attended meeting. As mentioned in the prior Board Report, Dr. Martin Regalia, the Chief Economist of the… Read More
INGAA Board members and INGAA staff met with Commissioner Wellinghoff on March 27 at FERC to discuss INGAA’s white paper on the feasibility of constructing pipeline compressor engine waste heat recovery facilities for electric generation. The INGAA white paper states that interstate pipelines are open to exploring building such… Read More
On March 28, INGAA filed comments in response to FERC’s Notice of Inquiry regarding proposals to revise its financial reporting forms (2, 2-A, 3-Q). INGAA stated that the information currently in the forms, along with other publicly available information, is sufficient to provide FERC and the public with the data… Read More
On March 21, FERC clarified two aspects of its interim affiliate rules in response to INGAA’s request for expedited clarification or rehearing. (See February board bulletin). First, FERC clarified that the rules apply only to pipelines affiliated “with a marketing or brokering entity that conducts transportation transactions on such… Read More
March was a busy month for the House Energy and Commerce Committee as it worked its way through numerous hearings on various aspects of climate change legislation. One important scheduling issue emerged. While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had made it clear that she expects climate change legislation to be… Read More
Most of you will remember that last year’s Pipeline Safety Act reauthorization included a provision requiring PHMSA to report back to Congress within 60 days on legislative recommendations for implementing the GAO report on reassessment intervals. The GAO has recommended that Congress repeal the current seven-year mandate and replace… Read More
INGAA is continuing to negotiate with PHMSA on generic technical criteria for raising the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of new and recent vintage pipelines. These criteria will use the presently available PHMSA waiver authority to grant special permits to individual pipeline segments. We have been successful in negotiating… Read More
The Honorable Jeff BingamanChairmanEnergy and Natural Resources CommitteeU.S. SenateWashington, DC 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: On behalf of the members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), I am writing to express our support for section 273(b) of S. 1115, the Energy Efficiency Promotion… Read More
December 21, 2005 Chairman Joseph T. KelliherFederal Energy Regulatory Commission888 First Street, NEWashington, DC 20426 Re: Docket No. EM06-5-000 Dear Chairman Kelliher: On November 22, 2005, I wrote to express the appreciation of the members of the Interstate Natural Gas… Read More
The Honorable Donald F. Santa, Jr.PresidentInterstate Natural Gas Asscociation of America10 G Street NE. Suite 700Washington, DC 20002 Dear Mr. Santa: As you know, the Committee on Energy and Commerce will be examining the issue of climate change and writing legislation for consideration by the… Read More
The Honorable John Cornyn 517 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Cornyn: I am writing on behalf of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) to share our members’ views on S. 1313, the “Protection of Homes, Small Businesses… Read More
April 5, 2006 The Honorable Dennis HastertSpeakerU.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515 On behalf of the members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), I am writing to share our comments on H.R. 4881, the “National Defense Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of… Read More
May 22, 2007 The Honorable Nick J. RahallChairmanCommittee on Natural ResourcesU.S. House of Representatives1324 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Rahall: The Independent Petroleum Association of America, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and Natural Gas Supply Association represent the exploration,… Read More
Mr. Secretary: Last Thursday, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard from several witnesses about the significant damage to natural gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While damage assessments remain on-going, it is clear that there will be some… Read More
On April 30 INGAA filed reply comments in Docket No. RM07-1, Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers. INGAA requested that the Commission issue a final rule adopting the Interim Rule, modified as requested by INGAA in its Initial Comments. In its reply comments, INGAA stated that… Read More