 |
|||||
|
|||||
WEI Member News Annual Competition Promotes Environmental Stewardship Playoff competition was fast and furious for students from Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Kamloops and Nanaimo at the 2010 Terasen Gas Environmental Mind Grind finale held May 7 in Lake Country. More Avista Selected as 2009 Utility Company of the Year by Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-Op, LLC Kentucky-based United Foodservice Purchasing Co-Op, LLC has selected Avista as its 2009 Utility Company of the Year. Avista was selected from more than 600 utility companies across the country with which UFPC and its owner-operators do business. More Chelan PUD Earns High Marks for Transmission System Reliability A recent review of Chelan PUD’s compliance with electric system reliability standards found the PUD is meeting all standards and brought praise for its compliance programs from the audit team of eight industry experts. More Clark Public Utilities Receives National Recognition for Reliable Operations Construction Begins on SRP Geothermal Purchase EnergySource LLC announced in May that construction has begun on its new 49-megawatt (MW) geothermal power generation project located in the Imperial Valley of Southern California. Salt River Project (SRP) has signed a 30-year agreement to purchase the entire output of the facility when the Hudson Ranch 1 project becomes commercially operational in early 2012. More Consumers Power Participates in Smart Grid Investment Grant with DOE CPI will participate in a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) smart grid investment grant award through PNGC Power, headquartered in Portland. More Councilmember Jan Perry, CdTech, LADWP Launch Green Job Training For South L.A. Community The Hon. Jan Perry, Councilmember of the Ninth District, the Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech), and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have launched an energy conservation and services work experience program for at-risk youth that will expose them to career opportunities in the growing green economy. More DOE Ranks PGE No. 1 in U.S. for Number of Renewable Power Customers Portland General Electric has more renewable power customers than any other utility in the United States. That’s according to the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which last month released its annual rankings of the nation’s top utility green pricing programs. More El Paso Corporation and Global Infrastructure Partners Close $1.5 Billion Ruby Financing El Paso Corporation and Global Infrastructure Partners announced they have closed the project financing for the Ruby Pipeline project. ENMAX Web Camera Captures Osprey Action for the Third Year The public once again has access to a bird’s-eye view of an osprey nest via a high-resolution webcam thanks to an arrangement between the Calgary Zoo and ENMAX Corporation. More EWEB Unveils Final Draft of Riverfront Master Plan The Eugene Water & Electric Board and Rowell Brokaw Architects hosted a Riverfront Open House at the utility’s headquarters to celebrate the completion of the EWEB Riverfront Master Plan. More First Portion of Major Transmission Line Energized Ahead of schedule and within budget, Rocky Mountain Power has energized the first section of Energy Gateway, an extensive transmission expansion that within the next 10 years will add 2,000 miles to the company’s high capacity transmission lines to meet the growing customer need for electricity, enhance service reliability and keep energy costs as low as possible. More Forbes.com Names NorthWestern Energy as One of its Top "100 Most Trustworthy Companies" in America Recently, Forbes.com named NorthWestern Energy as one of its top “100 Most Trustworthy Companies” in America. The list, compiled by Audit Integrity, recognizes the nations’ top 100 companies that have consistently demonstrated transparent and conservative accounting practices as well as solid corporate governance and management. IID Clarifies Position on All-American Canal Lining Project Safety Features In response to the May 2, 2010, 60 Minutes segment on the All-American Canal lining project, Imperial Irrigation District Division 4 Director Stella Mendoza strongly objected to the mischaracterization of her position regarding the incorporation of enhanced safety measures in the newly lined 23-mile segment of the 83-mile-long waterway. More Kill A Watt™ Meters Available At Libraries Idaho Power, Avista Utilities, Rocky Mountain Power and the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICFL) are partnering to offer Energy Efficiency Kits for library visitors to check out. The utilities and the ICFL started the program as a way to help customers learn about their energy use and identify ways they can save money on their monthly electric bills. Each Energy Efficiency Kit includes a Kill A Watt™ meter, instructions on how to use the meter and energy saving tips. New Study Shows Energy Efficiency and Conservation Lead to 6,400 B.C. Jobs a Year A study released in May shows that BC Hydro's electricity conservation and efficiency activities will create 193,000 jobs in the province over 30 years – an average of 6,400 jobs annually. More Nexen Sells Canadian Heavy Oil Properties Nexen Inc. has agreed to sell its heavy oil properties in Western Canada to Northern Blizzard Resources Inc. for approximately $975 million (before closing adjustments and costs). More NV Energy Lights Tonopah with Compact Fluorescent Lights Q: How many compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) does it take to light an entire town in central Nevada? A: 14,000. That's how many of the energy efficient lights are being provided for free to all 1,200 households in Tonopah during the next few weeks through NV Energy’s Residential Energy Star Lighting Program. More PSE to Start Construction on Lower Snake River Wind Project Washington’s renewable-energy industry received a significant boost last month when Puget Sound Energy announced the start of construction on Phase I of the Lower Snake River Wind Project in Garfield County. More Questar Board of Directors Conditionally Approves Spin-Off of Exploration & Production Business Questar Corporation announced that its board of directors has authorized management to proceed with a tax-free spin-off to shareholders of its natural gas and oil exploration and production (E&P) and midstream field services businesses to form an independent, publicly traded company to be named QEP Resources, Inc. More Riverside Public Utilities Radio Program Wins Award Riverside Public Utilities’ weekly radio program “Green Power Report” recently won gold in a national marketing and communications award competition. More Salmon Ride Smoothly Through Eight BPA Dams This Year Young Northwest salmon and steelhead migrating toward the ocean will benefit for the first time this year from easier, safer routes through all eight lower Snake and Columbia River dams. More Snohomish County PUD Bond Refinancing, New Issuances Get Low Interest Rates and Strong Bond Ratings Snohomish County Public Utility District announced it has completed a significant $361 million financing program to fund several capital construction projects. More Southern California Edison Celebrates Milestone for a Major Renewable Transmission Project The first part of a major renewable transmission project capable of providing enough clean energy to serve about 3 million homes has been completed by Southern California Edison (SCE), an Edison International company, and will soon be providing power. More Spectra Energy Selects 2010 Scholarship Recipients Spectra Energy announced ten children of company employees have been selected to receive up to $5,000 per year in scholarship funds toward undergraduate study at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. Two additional students were recognized for their achievements and will each receive a one-time $2,500 scholarship. More TransCanada Announces Open Season Results for Zephyr Power Transmission Project TransCanada Corporation announced that it has concluded a successful open season for the Zephyr Power Transmission (Zephyr) project and has signed precedent agreements for the full 3,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity with renewable energy developers in Wyoming. The three creditworthy wind developers are Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy LLC, Horizon Wind Energy LLC, and BP Wind Energy NA Inc. More Williams Partners L.P. and Williams Pipeline Partners L.P. Announce Merger Agreement Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) and Williams Pipeline Partners L.P. (NYSE: WMZ) have signed a merger agreement. More
Rest of the West
PG&E Provides Detailed Reports on SmartMeter™ Program, Announces Further Steps to Address Customer Questions Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in May released forty-five reports, dating back to August 2006, that provide a detailed look inside the company's SmartMeter™ program. No other utility in California is reporting on its meter conversion program as often or in as much detail. More SDG&E Adds Solar Energy to Its Portfolio from Imperial County San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced that it has signed a 20-year power-purchase agreement with an LS Power subsidiary to procure up to 130 megawatts (MW) of solar energy from the proposed Centinela Solar Energy facility in the Imperial Valley, helping to solidify the company’s commitment to employ the future Sunrise Powerlink to transmit clean, renewable energy. More Senator Wright, SoCalGas Urge Congress to Increase Energy-Assistance Funding for Low-Income Families Calif. Sen. Roderick D. Wright (D-Inglewood), Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), and local community leaders urged Congress to approve $5.2 billion in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). More TEP Signs Agreements for Nearly 160 Megawatts of Renewable Power Projects Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has agreed to purchase the output of 10 new solar power systems, a landfill gas generation project and a new wind farm that together would generate nearly 160 megawatts (MW), enough renewable energy to power more than 30,000 Tucson homes. Tiered Rates Now in Effect for Xcel's Colorado Residential Electric Customers A two-tiered seasonal rate went into effect June 1 for Xcel Energy’s Colorado residential electricity customers. Designed to be revenue neutral, company leaders and regulators hope it may inspire consumers to reduce their energy usage during summer months. More
On the Move
Rebecca Klein Elected to Avista Corp. Board of Directors More Los Angeles City Council Confirms Eric Holoman to Board of Water and Power Commissioners More Dave Cobb Appointed President and CEO of BC Hydro More Vernon Light and Power Director Donal O’Callaghan Promoted to City Administrator More IDACORP Announces Leadership Changes More Utility Executive Dilek L. Samil to Join NV Energy as Chief Financial Officer More Heather H. Grahame to Join NorthWestern Energy as Vice President and General Counsel More Seattle City Light Introduces Noel Treat as Chief of Staff More Williams Adds Lou Hayden as Director, Federal Legislative Affairs More Veteran Engineer Tuan Tran Joins Seattle City Light as Director of Energy Delivery Engineering More Puget Sound Energy Hires Program Coordinators for Energy-Efficiency Services More
News Climate Bill Details Garner Praise, Spill Leaves Bill in Limbo Last month Sens. John Kerry and Joe Lieberman unveiled the 987-page climate change bill they have been working on for seven months, and while the bill has the support of numerous business leaders and environmental groups, politicians may prove harder to court. More EPA Finalizes Stationary Source Greenhouse Gas Rules Starting in July 2011, newly planned facilities releasing 100,000 or more tons of CO2 per year will require greenhouse gas emissions permits, according to finalized rules from the EPA. More Senate Backs EPA Greenhouse Gas Authority The Senate rejected a resolution that challenged EPA’s authority to move ahead with rules, crafted under the federal Clean Air Act, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other large polluters. More Ballot Initiative to Halt California Climate Change Efforts Gains Momentum AB 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, could drive some businesses to move to states that have lower regulatory costs, concluded a study from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. More Bipartisan Protest Arises Over Yucca Mountain Shutdown In late May, the Department of Energy notified Yucca Mountain contractor USA Repository Services that it should only do work related to shutting down the repository or administrating employee benefits. The move has been criticized by Reps. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., and Jay Inslee, D-Wash. More Feds Say Proposed WA NOx Control Measures Won’t Cut Haze TransAlta’s coal-fired plant at Centralia, Washington generates a tenth of the state’s electricity and is also its single largest greenhouse gas emitter. Washington’s Department of Ecology is finalizing a deal to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at the plant, but the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service have said the plan will do little to reduce haze. More Pooled Mitigation Account Could Expedite Renewables Approval A new agreement will allow renewable energy projects proposed for the California deserts to place funds into a deposit account earmarked for environmental mitigation projects rather than undertake individual mitigation measures themselves. More China Strikes Deal to Explore Saskatchewan Oil & Gas In May, China National Petroleum Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saskatchewan government to explore the province’s oil, natural gas and carbon capture opportunities. More Cities Prepare for First Electric Cars With the launch of the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt just around the corner, carmakers and public officials are trying to strike deals that will help integrate electric vehicles into consumers’ lives. More Smart Meters and Smart Power Use As smart meters penetrate an ever-growing portion of U.S. households, utilities and economists are still unsure of how best to use the technology to encourage people to adapt their power use. More Obama Directs Development of New Fuel Standards In a presidential memorandum, Obama instructed the government to develop mileage and pollution standards for big trucks as well as cars and SUVs, with a goal of seeing vehicles running on half the fuel they currently use. More Sunspot Cycles May Influence Climate The number of sunspots at any given time does change the amount of radiation emitted by the sun—but the possible climate impact of sunspot cycles is still a matter of debate in the scientific community. 25th Anniversary of Ozone Hole Announcement Prompts Comparison In 1985, scientists announced in the journal Nature that pollutants were thinning the ozone layer that protected the earth from a large portion of the sun’s radiation. Within two years, the U.N. adopted a resolution against CFCs. More Fuel Cells in Spotlight but Hurdles Still Exist Bloom Energy Corp.’s innovative, inexpensive Bloom Energy Server has garnered quite a bit of attention since its unveiling in February of this year—as has its list of high-profile customers, from Wal-Mart to eBay and Google. Still, say some, the technology might not quite be ready for prime-time. More
Western Natural Gas Market Review More
Western LNG Update Bradwood Landing Defeat Shifts Focus to Remaining LNG Proposals More Senator Questions DOJ Attorney’s Role in Bradwood Landing Permitting Process More National Park Service Deals Blow to Fall River, Mass. LNG Proposal More EOG Resources Acquires 49 Percent of Kitimat LNG Terminal Project More FERC Denies Extended Timeline for Alaskan LNG Plant Construction More Surplus LNG Weakens Price Link to Oil More |
|||||
|
|||||
To sponsor Western Energy News, please contact WEI at 503 231-1994.
|
|||||
Copyright © 2010. Reuse of this publication or its contents is allowed with credit to Western Energy Institute. |
|||||