Securing a Future for Coal

A combination of low gas prices and tighter regulations has sidelined coal as an option for new power plants. The outlook could change, however, with reasonable policies to create a market for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) systems. MIT Prof. Howard Herzog explains how.
A combination of low gas prices and tighter regulations has sidelined coal as an option for new power plants. The outlook could change, however, with reasonable policies to create a market for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) systems. MIT Prof. Howard Herzog explains how.

2nd Annual Business Continuity & Emergency Preparedness Conf.

The meeting will cover lessons learned in business continuity and emergency response planning, ICS implementation, mutual assistance, cyber security threats, regulatory impacts and the aging workforce, among others. This conference will bring together key industry professionals to create an environment for benchmarking and knowledge sharing on key disaster recovery best practices.

Georgia Power Completes $109 Million Smart Grid Improvement Project

Georgia Power completed a statewide smart grid improvement project conducted through a multiyear Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE). The $109 million project, which includes $52.5 million in funds from the DOE and $56.5 million from the company, is part of a larger $165 million agreement between Southern Company and the DOE under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Element Power Signs 200 MW PPA with KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations

Element Power US, owner and developer of the Mill Creek Wind Farm, and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations have entered into a PPA for a 200 MW wind energy facility to be built in Holt County, Missouri. The 200 MW project, once operational, will be the largest in the state of Missouri. The project currently has approximately 25,000 acres under lease with over 100 landowner partners. Element Power anticipates commencement of construction in Q3 2014, with expected commercial operation achieved by the end of December 2015.

Utility Partners of America Selected for Digital Meter Project for Inland Power & Light

Utility Partners of America (UPA) installed nearly 40,000 digital electric meters on behalf of Spokane, Washington-based Inland Power & Light (Inland P&L). UPA is providing complete installation services including a work order management system (WOMS), workflow development, a customer information system (CIS) interface and data and inventory management. The meters will provide Inland P&L with diagnostics that will help improve power quality, increase ways to optimize the electrical system and pinpoint outages.

Siemens Wins Order for 600-MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Turkey

Siemens received an order for the turnkey construction of the Bandirma II combined-cycle (gas and steam) power plant (CCPP) in Turkey. The purchaser is Enerjisa, a joint venture of Sabanci Holding and E.ON. Upon completion in the spring of 2016, this plant will have an installed capacity of around 600 MW and an efficiency of over 60 percent.

ConEdison Solutions Wins $56 Million Contract to Boost Energy Efficiency at More Than 90 U.S. Army Sites in 11 States

ConEdison Solutions (CES) signed a $56 million contract with the U.S. Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command (RSC) to provide energy efficiency services and operations and maintenance support at 90 sites in 11 states. The contract is a component of the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) program. Under this initiative, a limited number of qualified, private-sector energy service providers can provide energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation services to federally owned buildings and facilities.

Quanta Services Selected by Southern California Edison for Completion of Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project Segments 7 & 8

PAR Electrical Contractors, a Quanta Services company, was selected by Southern California Edison to complete construction of segment seven and portions of segment eight of its Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) in California. PAR's scope of work under the contract includes the installation of double circuit 500-kV overhead transmission line, environmental mitigation and compliance, foundation installation, tower erection and conductor installation.

Southern Company Enhances Grid Reliability Through $165 million DOE Smart Grid Investment Grant

Southern Company completed the smart grid development efforts associated with the $165 million Smart Grid Investment Grant awarded to the company by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2009. Through a combination of matching funds and additional investments, the company spent a total of $363 million to accelerate smart grid implementation and make the grid more reliable, efficient and secure.