Manitoba Hydro Signs Two New Power Deals with Wisconsin Public Service

Manitoba Hydro signed two major power sales with Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group. The first sale, running from 2016-2021, is for 108 MW of firm power. The second sale - which will use electricity produced by the proposed new Conawapa Generating Station on the Nelson River - is for 308 MW of firm power for up to 10-years. The 308-MW sale is scheduled to start in 2027. A previously announced 100-MW sale to WPS is scheduled to run from 2021 to 2026, bridging the gap between these two new deals.

 

Alterra Power Completes Acquisition of Shannon Wind Project

Alterra Power completed the acquisition of the Shannon wind project, a 202-MW wind farm in Clay County, Texas, from Horn Wind. Alterra also placed a $4.5 million cash deposit with Oncor, the project's transmission service provider, which will now begin the design and equipment procurement for the project's interconnection substation. In December 2013, Alterra completed certain construction activities to ensure the Shannon project will qualify for the U.S.

Calpine Completes Purchase of Guadalupe Power Plant in Texas for $625 Million

Calpine completed the acquisition of a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant located in Guadalupe County, 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, Texas, in ERCOT's south zone. Calpine purchased the plant, which has a generating capacity of 1,050 MW, from MinnTex Power Holdings (a portfolio company owned by a private investment fund managed by Wayzata Investment Partners) for $625 million plus adjustments.

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.