NRG Yield, through its subsidiary NRG Yield Operating, entered into an agreement with GE Energy Financial Services to acquire its 25 percent interest in the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm in Riverside, CA for $285 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments, plus the assumption of $287.4 million of non-recourse project level debt.
Starwood Energy Group Global, a private investment firm focused on energy infrastructure, announced that an affiliate has entered into an agreement with Lakeside Energy to acquire Lakeside Generation, a 369-MW portfolio of three natural gas facilities, one located in Pennsylvania and two in New York. The portfolio consists of Hazleton, a 158-MW peaking facility in Pennsylvania; Syracuse, a 103-MW combined cycle facility in New York; and Beaver Falls, a 108-MW cogeneration combined cycle facility in New York.
Entergy subsidiaries, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Texas have signed an agreement to acquire the Union Power Station, a highly efficient, natural gas-fired 1,980-MW generating facility. The station is owned by Union Power Partners, an independent power producer, and wholly owned by Entegra TC. The Union Power Station, which entered commercial service in 2003, consists of four combined-cycle gas-fired generating units, or CCGTs, each rated at 495 MW.
PPL Montana has agreed to sell its hydroelectric facilities to NorthWestern Energy. Montana Public Service Commission voted to prepare an order approving NorthWestern Energy's request to purchase the facilities. The agreement includes PPL Montana's 11 hydroelectric power plants, which have a combined generating capacity of more than 630 MW, as well as the company's Hebgen Lake reservoir. PPL Montana and NorthWestern have secured required approvals from FERC, as well as the necessary clearance from the antitrust enforcement agencies.
Ventyx, an ABB company, signed a new license agreement with diversified energy company Black Hills to deploy Ventyx's leading enterprise asset management (EAM) solution, Ventyx Asset Suite, across the utility's T&D operations. Black Hills is replacing its myriad existing systems to modernize and optimize its T&D operations as part of a broad "Utility of the Future" initiative. Black Hills will roll out Asset Suite in a phased approach across its gas and electric utility operations serving 777,000 customers in seven states.
Landis+Gyr signed a definitive agreement to acquire GRIDiant Corporation, a utility analytics company focused on the electric distribution grid. GRIDiant's analytics suite will be integrated into Landis+Gyr's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution grid management and cloud-based solutions for utility customers. The influx of data from advanced metering, intelligent sensors and other distribution devices can challenge a utility's ability to utilize data for planning and operational performance.
AREVA signed an agreement with the American engineering firm NUCCORP to be the exclusive supplier of the nuclear grade air trap (NGAT) technology to the nuclear industry. The NGAT system eliminates the need for periodic venting and ultrasonic testing inspections, which can increase costs and impair operational efficiency. Winner of a 2012 Nuclear Energy Institute Vendor Top Industry Practice award, the device can be easily installed in existing plants and has already been demonstrated in operation.
Exelon and Pepco Holdings signed a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in an all-cash transaction. The agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, brings together Exelon’s three electric and gas utilities – BGE, ComEd and PECO – and Pepco Holdings’ electric and gas utilities – Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco – to create the leading Mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility.
Google and MidAmerican Energy (MidAmerican) established an agreement for MidAmerican to supply Google's Council Bluffs, Iowa data center with up to 407 MW of wind-sourced energy. The wind power will come from several wind projects that are part of MidAmerican's Wind VIII program, an initiative under which MidAmerican will bring 1,050 MW of new Iowa wind power online by the end of 2015.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG), through its subsidiary, Canadian Nuclear Partners (CNP), and Westinghouse Electric have established an agreement that will enable the companies to consider a diversity of nuclear projects including refurbishment, maintenance and outage services, decommissioning and remediation of existing nuclear power plants, and new nuclear power plants. Westinghouse and OPG have collaborated recently on several key projects.