Western Power Summit presented by EPEC

Dynamic and fast-changing events are impacting western electric power markets. To address these vital issues, the Western Power Summit presented by EPEC (Electric Power Executive Conference) will bring together executives, senior policy makers, and other stakeholders November 5-6, 2014 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas to discuss issues related to long-haul transmission, emerging energy imbalance markets, California’s energy storage directive, and the water-energy nexus.

Suzlon Announces Sale of 240 MW Big Sky Wind Farm to EverPower

Suzlon Group (Suzlon) completed the sale of the 240 MW Big Sky Wind Farm in Illinois to EverPower Wind Holdings, which was previously announced on April 9. Suzlon Group had recently acquired the Big Sky wind farm from Edison Mission Energy via their fully owned US-based subsidiary Suzlon Wind Energy Corp (SWECO). Suzlon and EverPower also agreed to a seven year service agreement, keeping SWECO involved in the project at the operations level.

FERC Approves Projects to Increase Natural Gas Supply to New York City by Next Heating Season

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved Williams Partners and its wholly-owned subsidiary Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company’s (Transco) application to construct and operate two related projects designed to increase natural gas delivery capacity to Brooklyn and Queens in time for next winter's heating season. Transco will begin construction in June and plans to bring the projects into service in the fourth quarter of 2014.

ABB Launches Grid Monitoring Relay for Wind Turbine Power Connection to Grid

ABB introduced a new grid feeding monitoring relay for wind applications, as part of the AWEA Windpower 2014 conference and exhibition. The new low-voltage grid feeding monitoring relay CM-UFD.M33, also known as the Grid Tie Relay, is a component that protects wind turbines from unstable grid activity or faults by disconnecting the electric energy source from the grid. The relay monitors voltage and frequency in single and three phase grids and trips the coupling switch when electrical values are not within set parameters.

Dominion Acquires Two Largest Solar Projects in Tennessee

Dominion acquired two stand-alone solar energy developments in southwest Tennessee, currently in late stage development by Strata Solar of Chapel Hill, N.C. All power and environmental attributes from both projects will be purchased by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) under their renewable standard offer program. Interconnection to the electric grid will take place through facilities owned and operated by Pickwick Electric Cooperative of Selmer, TN.

JinkoSolar to Provide 35 MW to Clenera for the Arizona Avalon Solar Project

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JinkoSolar) will supply 35 MW of solar PV modules to Clenera, a clean energy finance and management firm, for the construction of the Avalon Solar Project. According to terms of the agreement, groundbreaking is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2014, with an anticipated completion date during the fourth quarter of 2014. Swinerton Renewable Energy will provide EPC services for the project. The power will be sold to Tucson Electric Power.

El Paso to Buy Natural Gas Assets from Kinder Morgan for $2B

El Paso Pipeline Partners acquired from Kinder Morgan Inc., KMI’s 50 percent interest in Ruby Pipeline, 50 percent interest in Gulf LNG and 47.5 percent interest in Young Gas Storage. The transaction value is approximately $2 billion, including $1.012 billion of proportionate debt at Ruby and Gulf LNG, resulting in an equity purchase price of $972 million. EPB plans to fund 10 percent of the transaction value, net of the proportionate debt, with EPB common units that will be issued to KMI at closing valued at approximately $97.2 million.

GE Offers $13.5 Billion Enterprise Value to Acquire Alstom Thermal, Renewables, and Grid Businesses

GE submitted a binding offer to acquire the thermal, renewables (power) and grid businesses of Alstom consisting of $13.5 billion enterprise value and $3.4 billion of net cash, totaling $16.9 billion. The Alstom board of directors has positively received GE’s offer and has appointed a committee of independent directors led by Jean-Martin Folz to review the transaction.

Exelon to Acquire Pepco Holdings

Exelon and Pepco Holdings signed a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in an all-cash transaction. The agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, brings together Exelon’s three electric and gas utilities – BGE, ComEd and PECO – and Pepco Holdings’ electric and gas utilities – Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco – to create the leading Mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility.