NTE Energy to Develop Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Facility in North Carolina

NTE Energy plans to develop, own and operate the Kings Mountain Energy Center, located in Cleveland County, NC. The new energy center will utilize a M501GAC advanced combustion turbine and a Mitsubishi steam turbine in combined cycle configuration. The power generation equipment will be supplied by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas (MHPSA). NTE Energy has begun the permitting process and submitted its transmission interconnection request to Duke Energy Carolinas. The project is planned to begin construction in 2015 and become fully operational in 2018. 

Minnesota Power Chooses Siemens for 205-MW Bison 4 Wind Power Project

Siemens Energy was awarded an order by Minnesota Power for 64 units of the company's latest 3-MW D3 platform wind turbines to be installed at the Bison Wind Energy Center near New Salem, North Dakota. The wind turbines feature a 113-meter rotor and 92.5-meter hub height and thus increased rating of 3.2 MW. Installation of the turbines is scheduled to begin in mid-June 2014, and commercial operation is slated for December 2014.

Itron Simplifies Smart Grid and AMI Deployments with TOTAL Managed Services Solution

Itron will utilize a new way of delivering its smart grid and AMI solutions with Itron TOTAL. The new offering takes Itron's existing capabilities in metering, communications, data management, analysis and professional services, and packages them all together in a subscription-based pricing structure with complete managed services. The offering is available across electric, gas and water solutions in North America.

Storage Steps Up

Could batteries affect the way power producers evaluate and operate their generating assets – in particular fossil fired generating assets they currently use to supply ancillary services? Duke Energy's Jeff Gates talks about the Notrees project and the future of battery storage.
Could batteries affect the way power producers evaluate and operate their generating assets – in particular fossil fired generating assets they currently use to supply ancillary services? Duke Energy's Jeff Gates talks about the Notrees project and the future of battery storage.

NTE Energy to Develop the Pecan Creek Energy Center in Texas

NTE Energy plans to develop, own and operate the Pecan Creek Energy Center, located near Sweetwater, Texas. The energy center will utilize the M501GAC-FAST combustion turbine in simple cycle that will be supplied by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas (MHPSA). The permit applications and its generation interconnection request have been filed with ERCOT. The project is expected to begin construction in the fourth quarter 2014 and become fully operational in the second quarter 2016.

Georgia Power, DOE Finalize Vogtle Nuclear Project Loan Guarantees

Georgia Power secured approximately $3.46 billion in loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) toward the construction of the Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 nuclear expansion project. The project is the first U.S. nuclear project to receive funding through the DOE program. Along with Georgia Power's portion of the two 1,100-MW reactors, the remaining ownership is split among Oglethorpe Power, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG Power) and Dalton Utilities.

IKEA Plugs-in 4 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Chicago-Area Store

IKEA plugged-in four Blink electric vehicle charging stations at one of its Chicago-area stores as part of its partnership with Car Charging Group. This initiative represents the 13th such U.S. project for IKEA, with installation underway at other locations. In all, installation of units currently planned will bring the number of Blink charging stations available at IKEA locations to 54.

SunEdison and MIC Solar Energy Complete 16.4 MW PV Solar Plant on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

SunEdison and MIC Solar Energy Holdings completed a 16.4 MW PV solar power plant located outside Tucson, Arizona on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB). The project was developed with a public/private alliance between Davis-Monthan AFB, SunEdison, The North American Development Bank (NADB), MIC Solar Energy Holdings, Chevron Energy Solutions and local officials. MIC Solar Energy Holdings took ownership of the project and SunEdison Renewable Operation Center (ROC) will manage plant operations through a contract with MIC Solar Energy Holdings.

El Paso Electric, Newman Solar Agree to Build Solar Energy Facility in Texas

El Paso Electric (EPE) and Newman Solar, owned by juwi solar (JSI), have signed an agreement to build a 10 MW solar energy facility in Northeast El Paso, Texas,  next to EPE's Newman Generation Station. JSI will be responsible for developing, designing, building and operating the Newman Solar project. EPE and JSI signed a 30-year PPA for 10 MW of solar photovoltaic energy in which EPE will purchase all of the solar energy, renewable energy credits and associated attributes.