REC Announces Three Utility-Scale Projects in North Carolina

REC announced three new utility scale installations in North Carolina. The projects, developed, engineered and constructed by Strata Solar are Rock Farm, 6.65-MW, Mt. Olive Farm, 6.65-MW, and AM Best Farm, 6.4-MW. Collectively these farms are powered by 81,000 high-performing REC 250 Peak Energy solar panels and generate 31,320 MWh’s of solar energy annually. These ground-mounted installations each cover an approximate area of 16 hectares and were commissioned in the first half of 2013.  

ClearSign Announces Agreement With Waste And Energy Services Company

ClearSign Combustion executed a letter of intent to enter into a multi-phase commercial development agreement with a waste and energy services company. Phase one of the anticipated three-phase agreement began in July with testing in ClearSign's Seattle combustion test facility. Subsequent phases would include full-scale testing and evaluation at a larger US-based facility. Additional contract details will be disclosed upon execution of the definitive agreement. 

Alstom to Supply Turbine-Generators to La Romaine 3 Hydroelectric Station

Alstom was awarded a contract worth more than $90 million CA for Hydro-Québec’s La Romaine 3 power house, one of four new power houses that make up the 1,550-MW La Romaine hydroelectric complex, located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. The scope of the contract includes the supply of two 200-MW vertical Francis turbine-generator units complete with butterfly valves and regulation systems. Alstom will install and commission the equipment at the La Romaine 3 site. This contract was booked during first quarter of fiscal year 2013/2014.

TRC Acquires Utility Support Systems

TRC Companies acquired Georgia-based Utility Support Systems (USS), a professional engineering company primarily supporting the power/utility market. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. USS reported net revenues of $11.5 million in 2012. TRC expects the transaction to be earnings accretive in fiscal 2014.

SCE Serves Formal Notice of Dispute to Mitsubishi over Defective Steam Generators at SONGS

Southern California Edison (SCE) served a formal notice of dispute on Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems (together, Mitsubishi) which seeks to hold Mitsubishi accountable for designing and manufacturing defective replacement steam generators (RSGs) at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Although Mitsubishi warranted the generators would operate reliably for 20 years, SCE was required to take SONGS offline in January 2012 when one of the Mitsubishi RSGs experienced a radioactive coolant leak after less than a year of operation.

Midwest Energy Emissions to Demonstrate Mercury Removal Technology

Midwest Energy Emissions signed agreements with two U.S. electric utility companies to perform demonstrations of Midwest Energy Emissions' technology that removes mercury from coal-power plant emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule requires that all coal- and oil-fired power plants in the U.S., larger than 25 MW, must remove roughly 90% of mercury from their emissions by April 16, 2015. 

Geronimo Energy Signs Wind Energy Purchase Agreements Totaling 400 MW with Xcel Energy

Geronimo Energy signed two long-term wind energy purchase agreements with Xcel Energy for a total of 400 MW of wind energy to be generated at the Courtenay Wind Farm and Odell Wind Farm. The Courtenay Wind Farm is a 200-MW wind energy facility in Stutsman County, North Dakota. The project will consist of up to 125 wind turbines to be constructed across 25,000 acres of leased land from over 60 landowners. The Odell Wind Farm is a 200-MW wind energy facility in Jackson, Watonwan and Cottonwood counties, Minnesota.