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WEI Member News BCUC Accepts Alcan, BC Hydro Purchase Agreement The British Columbia Utilities Commission has accepted the 2007 Electricity Purchase Agreement between BC Hydro and Alcan. The agreement provides BC Hydro with a cost effective, long-term supply of clean energy to help meet the growing demand for electricity in B.C. More ConocoPhillips, TransCanada Execute Agreements for Pipeline Ownership Interest ConocoPhillips and TransCanada Corporation announced last month that ConocoPhillips had acquired a 50 per cent ownership interest in the Keystone Oil Pipeline. More Hawaiian Electric and Hoku Solar Move Ahead on Photovoltaic Project Hawaiian Electric Company has filed an application with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to enter into a contract with Hoku Solar, Inc., a subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc., to purchase electricity generated by a photovoltaic power system that Hoku Solar would install. More Milestone Reached in Southern California Edison Wetlands Restoration Project Workers constructing Southern California Edison’s 150-acre wetlands restoration project have once again connected a former marine and wildlife sanctuary with the Pacific Ocean. More Mayor Villaraigosa, DWP Break Ground on Largest City-Owned Wind Farm In U.S. Marching towards his goal to bring Los Angeles' renewable energy portfolio to 20 percent by 2010, Mayor Villaraigosa joined City leaders in breaking ground on Pine Tree Wind Project, the largest City-owned wind farm in America. More Nevada Power Company's Inaugural Energy Expo Receives National Advocacy Excellence Award Nevada Power Company, a subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources, has received the 2008 Edison Electric Institute Advocacy Excellence Award for the company’s Energy Assistance Expo. The company was recognized during a special ceremony in Scottsdale, Ariz. More PGE Customers Help Warm Hearts and Homes for Valentine’s Day NorthWestern Energy Announces Site Selection for Proposed Electric Generation Plant NorthWestern Energy is considering a site east of Anaconda, Montana for a proposed natural gas fired electric generation facility. More
PNM to Sell Natural Gas Business, Acquire Texas Utility PNM Resources' New Mexico utility, PNM, has agreed to sell its natural gas operations in a strategic move to concentrate the company's efforts on electric operations during an era of rising costs, growing demand for electricity and significant capital investments. More PSE Employees Move into New, Energy Efficient Skagit Service Center in Burlington Last month, Puget Sound Energy’s 130 employees based in Skagit County began working in one of the most sustainable, energy-efficient buildings in the county. More Radio Disney and NW Natural Expand Partnership The partnership between NW Natural and Radio Disney was so successful in 2007, it’s been extended for 2008. This year, additional opportunities and venues will be available for kids of all ages to enjoy. More Sierra Pacific Power Building in Reno Goes Solar Sierra Pacific Power officials estimate that photovoltaic modules installed on the roof of Sierra Pacific Power’s Transportation Services Building in Reno will supply up to half of the building’s energy needs. More
Salt River Project Supplies Green Energy for Super Bowl Salt River Project helped make Super Bowl XLII a green event by providing green energy to the University of Phoenix Stadium for the game as well as the NFL Experience Football Theme Park and to two hotels hosting guests in town for the game and other events. Williams Turns 100: Former Chairman, CEO John Williams Rings Closing Bell at NYSE Williams began its 100th anniversary celebration on January 24 during The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange. John Williams , the company's former chairman and chief executive officer and the nephew of the company's founders, rang the closing bell. Steve Malcolm , chairman and CEO of Williams since 2002, joined Mr. Williams on the podium. More
On the Move
Bradley Woodring to Head Sierra Pacific Economic Development Efforts More
HEI Announces Executive Appointments of Eric Yeaman, Curtis Harada, Robbie Alm, and Tayne Sekimura More
Nancy Holmes Named Spokane Regional Business Manager for Avista More
NW Natural Promotes Lea Anne Doolittle and Richelle Luther More
Williams' Chief Administrative Officer Michael Johnson Will Retire More
News
Congress Prepared to Hasten Alaska Gas Pipeline Project Drue Pearce, federal gas pipeline coordinator, told the Senate Resources Committee that the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act appears to be working. However, she emphasized that if progress does not continue then Congress might have to intervene. More
CIA Reveals Successful Computer Attacks on Non-US Utilities The CIA announced in January that in several cities outside the U.S., hackers have been able to access utilities’ computer systems to cause power outages with the goal of extorting money. More Smart Technologies Produce Energy Savings, Ease Grid Stress The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s GridWise Demonstration Project showed that advanced technologies enabled consumers to reduce their bills by about 10 percent by becoming active participants in improving grid efficiency and reliability. More Proposed Coal Projects Draw Heat from Environmental Groups More than four dozen proposed coal-fired plants in 29 states are being contested by activist groups in measures from lawsuits and administrative appeals to lobbying pressure on federal and state regulators. More New Energy Law Will Change US Households The energy law signed into law in December is likely to change many of the fixtures in the average American household, from light bulbs to large appliances. More EPA Officials Cautioned Against Denying California’s Waiver Request When EPA administrator Stephen Johnson denied California’s request for a waiver that would allow the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, he did so despite having been advised by officials in his own agency that California had “compelling and extraordinary conditions” that would justify that waiver being granted. More Electric Power Supply Association Protests Possible FERC Investigation Responding to a request for a FERC investigation into wholesale power markets, the Electric Power Supply Association said the filing “contained neither solutions nor a serious approach to improving” those markets. More FTC Examines Carbon Offsets, Renewable Energy Certificates The Federal Trade Commission held a January workshop to discuss the role of carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates and advertising claims related to those products. More Oregon Considers Cost of Tax Credits, Value of Green Investment In Oregon, large tax credits for renewable energy businesses have spurred an influx of companies seeking to take advantage of such benefits—now it falls to Oregon lawmakers to determine whether the lost tax money is worth the green energy gains. More Environmental Groups Challenge Transmission Corridors Close to a dozen environmental groups are suing the U.S. Department of Energy over its designation of large areas in the Southwest and mid-Atlantic as national transmission corridors. Despite High Prices, Texas Lawmakers Resist Re-Regulation In response to soaring electricity prices, most states are re-regulating their electricity markets. But in Texas, despite high prices, lawmakers are not considering such changes. More
California Utilities Bet Big on CFLs to Meet Conservation Targets In response to the state’s stringent new conservation targets, California utilities are faced with the challenge of persuading their customers to use less of their product. More Yucca Mountain Project Slowed by Cuts in Funding A lack of funding led DOE’s director of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management to warn that the future of Yucca Mountain does not look good. More South Africa Faces Growing Power Crisis In response to chronic power outages that have caused nationwide chaos, South Africa has decided to ration electricity, raise prices and encourage the use of solar energy. More Western Natural Gas Market Review More Western LNG Updates
Prometheus Energy Begins Construction on Utah Production Facility More
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February
2008 News Team |
February 2008
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