The Sacramento Bee | Monday, October 30, 2006

Natural Gas Imports Part of Balanced Solution

When it comes to natural gas, California faces a quandary.

On one hand, the state does not have a terminal anywhere along its coast that can off-load LNG (natural gas that is stored in a ship in its super-cooled, liquefied form). On the other hand, California does have an increasing demand for natural gas. It has become the clean-burning fuel of choice to generate electricity and heat homes. Yet new domestic supplies aren't keeping up with future demands.

The Weekly Gas Market Newsletter | Monday, October 23, 2006

Clearwater Port LNG Backers Challenge Sempra at CPUC

At least one of the proponents competing to build California's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal has squared off in a state regulatory proceeding with Sempra Energy's two utilities over future transmission rights for getting regasified LNG into the utilities' backbone transmission pipeline system in Southern California.

Los Angeles Times | Thursday, August 17, 2006

Los Angeles Residents to See Hike in Electric Rates
By Steve Hymon

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved electric rate increases Wednesday to help the Department of Water and Power cover the rising cost of natural gas.

The rate hikes are set to begin in October. The average DWP residential customer whose electric bill is now $606 annually could potentially see that rise incrementally to $680 by 2010.

USA TODAY | Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Natural gas prices soar with demand for electricity
By Barbara Hagenbaugh

WASHINGTON — Natural gas prices jumped to their highest in nearly six months Monday as hot weather across much of the USA led to increased demand for natural-gas-generated electricity.

Sacrmento Bee | Friday, August 11, 2006

Natural gas cost headed upward
By Gilbert Chan

When the cold winter months roll around, business heats up for George Sager's Laundry Basket outlet.

So does the laundry's monthly natural gas bill.

"Natural gas prices always increase in the winter. The more business we do, the more gas we pay," said Sager, co-owner of the Roseville coin-operated laundry.

North County Times | Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Heat wave spawns tsunami of bills
By Chris Bagley

Cloud cover this week may offer a break from July's record heat wave, but Southern Californians are beginning to feel the other shoe drop on them this month as they pull their power bills out of the mailboxes. Temperatures in Temecula topped 95 degrees 14 times last month, compared to seven times in July 2005 and four times in July 2004. Air conditioners, which use more electricity than any other home appliance, have been cutting on earlier each morning and cutting off later each evening. That pushed California's energy usage to a series of record highs, capping off on July 25 with 50,270 megawatts, about 11 percent higher than last summer's peak.

Ventura County Star | Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Two more companies plan LNG proposals
Woodside, NorthernStar are expected to file applications for facilities soon
By Charles Levin

Two more companies are close to filing applications with state and federal officials for liquefied natural gas facilities off the Los Angeles and Ventura County coasts. Australia-based Woodside Natural Gas Inc. will submit an application within two months with the California State Lands Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard for a deep-water port license, company officials said recently.

Los Angeles Times | Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Proposed liquefied gas projects

The West Coast's increasing appetite for natural gas has led to proposals for five California recieving points, including one as yet unspecified location off the north coast.

Los Angeles Business Journal | Monday, May 22, 2006

Five Southland LNG Projects Seek Approval
By Howard Fine

After years of high natural gas prices and periodic shortages, the race is on to develop liquefied natural gas import facilities along the Southern California coast.

Five proposals are in the works to have tankers bring liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to the Southern California coast, where the supercooled liquid would be converted back into gas and then piped to the region's existing natural gas network.

Ventura County Star | Friday, April 29, 2005

Economist backs offshore LNG idea
By Timm Herdt

SACRAMENTO — An economist hired by a business-backed coalition that advocates bringing liquefied natural gas to California said Thursday that a single, midsize LNG terminal along the coast could drive down natural gas prices in the state by from 10 percent to 20 percent.