CMS Energy names Brian Rich as vp and CIO; New York Independent System Operator names Michael Bemis as board chair; Southern California Edison elects Connie J. Erickson as v.p. and controller; CenterPoint Energy names Dana O’Brien senior v.p. and general counsel.
Duke Energy Renewables acquired two 20-MW AC California solar projects from renewable energy developer Infigen Energy. The Pumpjack and Wildwood Solar Power Projects, located in Kern County near Bakersfield, represent Duke Energy Renewables' third and fourth utility-scale solar power projects in the state. The solar energy generated from the two projects will be sold through 20-year PPA with Southern California Edison.
The competitive transmission genie is out of the bottle.
NRG Solar’s Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is now operational and delivering solar electricity to California customers. At full capacity, the facility produces a gross total of 392 MW. Ivanpah is a joint effort between NRG, Google, and BrightSource Energy and Bechtel is the EPC contractor on the project. The project received a $1.6 billion loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office. The facility achieved commercial operation on December 31, 2013.
EDF Renewable Energy announced a 20-year PPA with Southern California Edison (SCE), contracted through the California Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM) competitive procurement program, for 19.8 MW wind project. The Patterson Pass Wind Project is a repowering effort whereby older technology is upgraded allowing for increased generation of clean energy with fewer wind turbines. Approximately 300 Nordtank and Bonus 65kW turbines, originally installed in 1985, will be removed as part of the development process.
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.
Arizona Public Service completed its purchase of Southern California Edison's (SCE) ownership in Units 4 and 5 of the Four Corners Power Plant near Farmington, N.M. As part of its plan - originally announced in November 2010 - APS has permanently closed the plant's older, less efficient Units 1, 2 and 3, and will install additional emission controls on the remaining units. Acquiring SCE's 48 percent interest in the larger Units 4 and 5 will increase APS's total Four Corners capacity from 791 MW to 970 MW.
Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power acquired the company's second solar PV installation in California – the 20-MW Adobe Solar Facility – in partnership with Turner Renewable Energy. The Southern Power-Turner Renewable Energy partnership's sixth solar project acquisition is expected to close upon the successful completion of construction, which is anticipated in spring 2014. The Adobe Solar Facility will be built, operated and maintained by SunEdison.
Carlyle Group acquires Red Oak plant from Energy Capital Partners; Tenaska acquires U.S. Power Generating Co.; Southern California Edison floats $1.6 billion in bonds in three tranches; Energy Trading Partners issues $1.5 billion in bonds; plus debt issues by ONEOK, Spectra Energy, TVA, MidAmerican, PECO, and Duke, totaling $9.2 billion.