Minnesota Power, a division of ALLETE, and the Minnesota National Guard signed a memorandum of understanding outlining plans to build a 10-MW utility-scale solar energy array at Camp Ripley, located in central Minnesota. The project will be the largest solar energy installation on military property in the state. The solar farm and backup generation will be designed and constructed to allow Camp Ripley to use the energy produced by the project during infrequent periods when the electric grid is down, providing enhanced energy security for the military site.

Dynegy plans to buy Duke Energy’s non-regulated Midwest Commercial Generation Business for $2.8 billion in cash, which includes ownership interests in 11 power plants and Duke Energy Retail Sales, the company's retail business in Ohio. The completion of the transaction is conditioned on approval from FERC, the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Act, and the release of certain credit support obligations. Closing is expected to occur in three to six months.

Echelon signed a definitive agreement to sell its grid operations to S&T AG, a publicly traded European IT systems provider. The companies expect the deal to close by the end of the year. Under the terms of the agreement, Echelon will receive approximately $5 million in upfront consideration, dependent in part on the value of net assets at closing. Echelon will also become a supplier of its narrowband high-reliability power line communications chips to S&T for use in their smart meters and related products.