Potentially developable natural-gas resources in the U.S. have grown 18 percent in the past two years, according to a report by the Golden-based Potential Gas Committee.
The biennial report from the Colorado School of Mines-based consortium of industry, government and academic agencies showed the largest percentage gain in natural-gas resources in 38 years.
The committee reported that the U.S. has 1.32 quadrillion cubic feet of potential gas resources. Combined with proved reserves of 204 trillion cubic feet, that would be enough to supply the nation for about 70 years.
The growth in resources came from newly discovered unconventional gas deposits and new extraction technologies that could unlock previously unavailable gas.
“Much of the resource growth can be attributed to U.S. onshore areas where success in extracting natural gas from shales and coal seams has resulted in revised assessments,” the committee said in a statement.
“The assessment reaffirms the committee’s evaluation of an abundant U.S. natural-gas resource potential,” said John Curtis, a Colorado School of Mines geology professor and director of an advisory group to the Potential Gas Committee.
DENVER
DIA fifth-busiest for travelers in June
Denver International Airport was the fifth-busiest airport in the nation in June, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
For the first half of the year, Denver was the fourth-busiest airport in the nation, up from fifth in the year-ago period and taking the place of Los Angeles.
Total U.S. airline traffic was up 3.4 percent in June, compared with the same month in 2006. Planes were filled to record levels in June, with total airline occupancy measured by load factors at 85.8 percent.
DENVER
Chamber chief gets Businessperson prize
Tom Clark, executive vice president of Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., was chosen as Businessperson of the Year by the Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Clark will be honored along with other local business and public-relations professionals Thursday at the 2007 PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards at the Walnut Foundry.
DENVER
Blue Sun proposes biodiesel project
Blue Sun Biodiesel LLC announced a proposal for a $42 million biodiesel and synthetic diesel project to the Department of Energy, using jatropha, a plant with oily seeds, as a feedstock.
The effort is in response to a DOE request for proposals to demonstrate the commercial viability of a biofuels refinery utilizing nonfood feedstocks. If funded, the project would use domestically produced jatropha grown in southern Texas.
LOUISVILLE
AirCell, Virgin plan in-flight broadband
AirCell, which has offices in Louisville and in Itasca, Ill., announced it will offer broadband Internet service on Virgin America flights in the continental United States starting in 2008 for a cost yet to be announced.
Through Virgin America’s partnership with AirCell, passengers will be able to use Virgin America’s in-flight entertainment system or their own Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, smart phones, PDAs, BlackBerrys or portable gaming systems to access the Internet.
LAMAR
Wind farm revs up for dedication today
Colorado officials and wind-energy representatives are to gather today to dedicate the new Twin Buttes wind farm south of Lamar.
The project’s 50 turbines at peak capacity will generate 75 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply about 22,000 homes. The facility spans 9,000 acres.
Xcel Energy will purchase the output of the wind farm. The project’s developer and owner is Portland-based PPM Energy.
BROOMFIELD
Used-CD figure says debts will be paid
Broomfield used-CD entrepreneur Steven Bonneau insists his recent agreement with the attorney general to repay hundreds of online consumers wasn’t necessary and that he would have taken care of them anyway.
The firm had similar issues in 2003, the result of a client’s financial problems, and eventually paid consumers without resorting to his own bankruptcy, Bonneau said.
In the latest case, the firm agreed to pay $40,000 to more than 400 consumers who expected to be paid for used CDs, DVDs and video games.
Attorney general spokesman Nate Strauch said Bonneau’s promises were kept this time only with legal intercession.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Trust is a finalist for airport business park
Colorado Springs Airport announced it has chosen real-estate investment trust Corporate Office Properties Trust as a finalist for master developer of the airport business park.
Once it reaches a final agreement, Colorado Office Properties Trust plans to partner with nine local firms to develop 270 acres of office and light-industry property in the new business park.
TORONTO
Visual check ordered of Bombardier craft
Canadian regulators called for visual inspections of all Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes worldwide after two separate landing gear failures in three days sent planes skidding across runways.
The air-worthiness directive issued by Transport Canada late Wednesday also called for a more detailed visual inspection of planes that have landed more than 8,000 times.
