ABB Wins $40 Million GIS Order from PSE&G to Strengthen Grid Reliability

ABB won an order worth around $40 million in the United States, from Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) to supply gas insulated switchgear (GIS) to two substations and help strengthen grid reliability. The order was booked in the third quarter of 2015. Hillsdale substation in Bergen County is a 50-year-old air-insulated switchgear (AIS) facility that will be upgraded to protect the infrastructure and prevent power outages for residents during severe weather.

Dominion Acquires 80-MW Amazon Solar Farm in Virginia

Dominion Energy acquired Amazon Solar Farm U.S. East, an 80-MW solar facility in Virginia from project developer Community Energy. Construction is expected to begin later in 2015. The facility would enter service in fall 2016. The facility's construction was enabled through a long-term PPA with an affiliate of Amazon's cloud computing business, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Interconnection agreements have also been secured with Delmarva Power.

Siemens to Supply Wind Turbines for 38-MW Onshore Project in France

Siemens was awarded an order for the delivery, installation and commissioning of 12 direct drive wind turbines at the Les Gourlous wind farm in France. The SWT- 3.2-113 turbines for the wind farm in the Champagne-Ardennes region in France will have a total capacity of 38.4 MW. Siemens will be providing long-term service for the new project within a 20-year service and maintenance agreement. The new project is scheduled for commissioning in November 2016.

MidAmerican Energy’s New Iowa Wind Farm to Feature Concrete Tower

MidAmerican Energy Company's new wind farm in Adams County, Iowa will include a first for the company - a concrete wind turbine tower. MidAmerican Energy has contracted with Siemens for the supply and construction of its new concrete tower design. The 2.3-MW concrete tower turbine at the Adams wind farm will measure 377 feet from ground to hub, compared to 263 feet for most of the turbines in use at other MidAmerican Energy wind farms. The concrete turbine is one of 64 wind turbines planned for the Adams wind farm.

Will Coal Get Left in the Cold?

As with any economic transition, changes in the energy line up are unsettling, bringing both hope and pain.

With the very foundation shifting beneath the feet of the energy sector, the industry’s players are trying to figure out their next moves. As with any economic transition, the changes are unsettling, bringing both hope and pain.  

Southern Company, AGL Resources File Request with New Jersey Regulators for Merger Approval

In a joint filing with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Southern Company and AGL Resources requested regulatory approval of the companies' proposed merger. AGL Resources is the parent company of Elizabethtown Gas. When completed, the combination of Southern Company and AGL Resources is expected to create the second-largest utility company in the U.S. by customer base.

Calpine to Purchase Granite Ridge Energy Center in New Hampshire

Calpine acquired the Granite Ridge Energy Center from Granite Ridge Holdings for $500 million, subject to working capital adjustments. The 745-MW, combined-cycle, gas-fired power plant is located in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The power plant, which commenced commercial operation in 2003, features two Siemens 501G combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one steam turbine. Calpine expects the transaction to close by the first quarter of 2016.

Entergy to Sell Rhode Island Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant to Carlyle Power Partners

Entergy’s wholesale generation division, Entergy Wholesale Commodities, entered into an agreement to sell its 583-MW Rhode Island State Energy Center (RISEC), located in Johnston, R.I., to Carlyle Power Partners. The facility is a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle generating plant that entered commercial service in 2002. The base sales price is approximately $490 million, subject to closing adjustments.

Talen Energy to Sell Three Pennsylvania Power Plants

Talen Energy agreed to sell three Pennsylvania power plants with a total combined generating capacity of 996 MW for $1.51 billion in gross cash proceeds, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The 704-MW Ironwood plant is being sold to a subsidiary of TransCanada for a total purchase price of $654 million. The Holtwood and Lake Wallenpaupack hydroelectric projects, with a combined generating capacity of 292 MW, were sold to a subsidiary of Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners L.P. for $860 million.

Algonquin Power to Develop 150-MW Wind Project in the U.S.

Algonquin Power & Utilities jointly developed the 150-MW Deerfield wind power project with Renewable Energy Systems Americas. The project will utilize turbine technology comprised of 44 Vestas V110-2.0 wind turbines and 28 Vestas V110-2.2 turbines and is estimated to generate 555.2 GW-hrs annually. Deerfield has a 20-year PPA with Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative.