As part of its 10-year, $2.6 billion grid modernization program, ComEd began installation of more than 4 million smart meters throughout its service territory. ComEd expects to install 60,000 smart meters by the end of 2013. The full deployment will be complete in 2021.

EDF Renewable Energy closed on the membership interest purchase agreement to acquire the Heartland Biogas Project with Heartland Renewable Energy. The 20MW equivalent anaerobic digester and renewable natural gas (RNG) facility has commenced construction activities with biogas deliveries to begin by the end of first quarter 2014. The project, located near LaSalle, Colorado, uses a complete mix anaerobic digester system to produce up to 4,700 MMBtu of biogas daily.

APR Energy was awarded 147MW of new contracts for fast-track power projects in Mozambique, Senegal, and Indonesia. The 40MW award in Mozambique is a multi-year contract for a fast-track power plant comprising gas power modules. The plant will run solely on natural gas and will be APR Energy's second project in the country. The 32MW contract award for diesel power modules in Senegal will supplement the 66MW of power capacity APR Energy is already providing.

Entergy plans to close and decommission its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vt. The station is expected to cease power production after its current fuel cycle and move to safe shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2014. The station will remain under the oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission throughout the decommissioning process. Vermont Yankee, a single unit boiling water reactor, began commercial operation in 1972. Entergy acquired the plant from Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation in 2002.

Atlantic Wind and Solar began construction on portfolio 101 representing 12 utility scale rooftop solar PV assets in Ontario, Canada. The utility scale projects, comprising 12 commercial buildings in Mississauga and Brampton in Ontario, represent 1.582 MW AC and approximately 1.9 MW DC of peak power production. Capital cost on the projects are approximately CAD $9.5 million.

SolarWorld began constructing solar carports at four public parks in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The four carports total 537 kW of power-generation capacity and are expected to generate a total of 17,300,000 kW-hours in renewable energy for the Conejo Recreation and Parks District (CRPD), the local government unit that owns and operates the parks. The project resulted from a partnership between CRPD, SolarWorld and Sustainable Power Group (sPower). SolarWorld is overseeing all phases of the project, including design, engineering, procurement, permitting and construction.

Duke Energy Renewables, Integrys Solar, Canadian Solar, and Community Energy Solar completed a 3-MW solar power project in Berkley, Mass. The Berkley East Solar Power Project is co-owned by Canadian Solar and INDU Solar Holdings – a joint venture between subsidiaries of Duke Energy and of Integrys Energy Services. Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant will purchase the power generated from the project under a 25-year agreement.

ABB won an order worth around $30 million from Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A. to construct a new indoor transmission substation in downtown Rio de Janeiro to power the Maracanã soccer stadium for the forthcoming World Cup. ABB will design, supply, install and commission a new indoor substation to replace a 40-year-old installation in Grajau, near the Maracanã stadium. ABB will also install IEC-61850 substation automation, control and protection systems to enable local as well as remote control and monitoring.