SunEdison and TerraForm Power Sign Definitive Agreement to Acquire First Wind for $2.4 Billion

SunEdison and TerraForm Power signed a definitive agreement to acquire First Wind for $2.4 billion. SunEdison will purchase over 1.6 GW of pipeline and backlog projects, which have been added to TerraForm Power's call right project list and are expected to be operational in 2016-2017. Included in the transaction is an additional 6.4 GW of project development opportunities.

NorthWestern Energy Completes Purchase of PPL Montana's Hydroelectric Facilities

NorthWestern Energy closed on the previously announced $900 million purchase of eleven hydroelectric facilities representing 633 MW of capacity and one storage reservoir from PPL Montana. NorthWestern previously announced the issuance of equity and debt securities to finance the acquisition from PPL Montana.

American Transmission Company Completes Zoo Interchange Work

American Transmission Co. (ATC) completed its work in the Zoo Interchange to relocate and erect new electric transmission infrastructure to accommodate the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's interchange expansion plans. ATC began the transmission line portion of the project in June 2013 to relocate seven overhead 138-kV transmission lines and erect 59 single pole structures to replace 58 lattice towers.

Georgia Power Launches EV Charger Rebate Program for Businesses

Georgia Power launched its new EV charger rebate program for business customers. The two-year program, informed by feedback from Georgia businesses, offers business customers a $500 rebate for installing 240-volt Level 2 (L2) chargers. The business customer program is part of a larger electric transportation pilot initiative which includes promoting public education, supporting community charging stations for public use, enhancing charging options at select Georgia Power facilities and offering rebates for residential customers who install EV chargers at their homes.

Siemens, Bechtel Lands Contract for Stonewall Energy Project in Virginia

Siemens, in consortium with Bechtel, was awarded the order for the turnkey supply for Panda Power Funds' Sto­­newall Energy Project in Leesburg, Virginia. The natural-gas-fired Leesburg CCPP will have a gross installed electrical capacity of 778 MW. Commissioning of the plant is scheduled for spring 2017.

New Phase of Canada-China Nuclear Energy Cooperation Welcomed by Candu

Candu Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Natural Resources Canada and the China National Energy Administration to advance collaboration between the two countries in the field of civilian nuclear energy including development of advanced fuel reactors and exports to third markets. Candu also signed a framework joint venture agreement with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to build advanced fuel CANDU reactor (AFCR) projects in China and develop opportunities for it globally.

RES Americas Building Commercial Large Energy Storage Systems Near Chicago

Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) developed two grid-scale energy storage projects outside of Chicago that, once completed in 2015, will be the largest, fully commercial energy storage projects in North America. RES Americas will develop and construct the two 19.8-MW energy storage systems, each having the ability to store 7.8 MWh of energy. The first project, Elwood Energy Storage Center, will be located in West Chicago and the second project, Jake Energy Storage Center, in Joliet.

Alstom Awarded Microgrid Project by the U.S Energy Department

Alstom was awarded the $1.2 million Microgrid Research Development and System Design (RD&D) project by the US Energy Department (DoE). Alstom is one of seven organizations to receive microgrid funding ($8 million total) from the DOE. The objective of this funding is to perform research, development and testing of advanced microgrid controllers capable of managing and controlling microgrid systems to improve viability, reliability and resiliency of the electric distribution grid.