Gas to the Rescue

Shale revolution catches fire, surpassing coal – in America, and soon around the world.

The shale revolution now fueling the American economy appears poised for expansion overseas.

Duke Energy Acquires Halifax Solar Project in Eastern North Carolina

Duke Energy Renewables (Duke) acquired the Halifax Solar Power Project, a 20-MW solar project in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., from Geenex and ET Solar Energy Corp. Duke will own and operate the site. The project is located in Dominion North Carolina Power's service territory, and the energy generated from the solar site will be sold through a 15-year agreement with the utility. The system employs 866 AE 3TL string inverters of 23.2KW AC capacity each and has about 100,000 ET Solar and Chint solar modules.

CODA Energy Begins Operation of the Largest Behind-The-Meter Energy Storage System in the Los Angeles Basin

CODA Energy announced the full interconnection and operation of the largest behind the meter lithium-ion energy storage system in the Los Angeles basin. The 1,054kWh / 510kW system was developed under a contract with South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and co-funded through California's Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). The project demonstrates the scalability of CODA Energy's peak shaving product architecture by managing demand charges for its facility headquarters.

ALLETTE Acquires Wind Farm from NRG Energy

ALLETE Clean Energy (ALLETE) finalized the acquisition of Storm Lake 1, a wind generation facility in Storm Lake, Iowa, adding another 108 MW to its renewable energy portfolio. ALLETE paid $15 million to NRG Energy to acquire the facility, which is adjacent to Storm Lake 2, a 78-MW wind farm purchased by ALLETE earlier this year. Both Storm Lake installations use 750 kW Zond turbines and are adjacent to each other in northwest Iowa.

PSE, RES Americas to Develop Battery Storage Project

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES Americas) signed agreements to cooperate on launching an innovative battery storage project in Whatcom County, Washington. Electricity will be stored in battery modules that are as large as 40-foot shipping containers and will be capable of providing up to 18 hours of power during an outage for the core area of Glacier. PSE is working with Washington State’s department of commerce in developing this pilot project.

Pattern Energy Acquires 200-MW Logan's Gap Wind Project

Pattern Energy Group (the “Company” or “Pattern Energy”), acquired the 200-MW Logan’s Gap Wind project in Texas, which is currently under construction, from Pattern Energy Group LP (“Pattern Development”). The Company acquired the Logan’s Gap Wind project for a total cash funding commitment of approximately $113 million, a portion of which will be used to pay down construction debt upon the completion of construction. The acquisition will be funded from available cash and credit facilities.

Alstom Partners with NTU Singapore to Develop Microgrid Solution

Alstom, and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU), collaborated to design, develop and deploy MicroGrid Power Mix Management (MPMM) solution in the context of the Renewable Energy Integration Demonstrator - Singapore (REIDS) initiative. The REIDS initiative, a first in the region will encompass the construction of a microgrid to manage and integrate electricity generated from multiple sources including solar, wind, tidal, diesel, as well as energy storage and power-to-gas solutions.

Utility Business Risk: A Reference

Business Versus Financial Risk: Debt is thought to be less risky than equity because debt holders have priority over equity holders as to: (1) distribution of assets in the case of dissolution of the company; and (2) distribution of earnings in the case of everyday operations.

Regulatory Roundup

2004 FERC roundup: Path 15 Upgrade; Gas Bypass Pipeline; Power Line Communications; Gen Station Power Needs; ISO Retail Service; Renewable Energy Portfolios; Gas Supply Risk; Fuel Cost Hedging; Utility Supply Solicitations; Provider of Last Resort; Coal Seam Gas; Deceptive Marketing Practices; Renewable Portfolio Standards.