Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., Calgary, said it closed $58.4 million (Can.) of debt financing with National Bank of Canada and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Proceeds will be used to finance the 26 Mw Cowley North and Sinnott wind generation projects and the 30 Mw Pingston Creek hydroelectric project. It will also replace existing combined credit facilities totaling $41.8 million.
American Electric Power Co. Inc., Columbus, Ohio, and Buckeye Power Inc. reported they will construct new emission control systems at their jointly owned 1,230 Mw Cardinal plant in Brilliant, Ohio. When in operation, the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions on each of the plant's three generating units by about 90%. Construction of SCRs for the three units is expected to be completed by May 2003.
Chambersburg School District, Chambersburg, Pa., awarded CMS Energy Corp.'s energy performance contracting unit a contract valued at $2.4 million for facility upgrades for a middle school that will lower energy and operational costs by an estimated $130,000/year, the company said. CMS Viron will retrofit all interior lights, install temperature control systems, convert the heating system from electricity to fuel oil, install trash compactors, and provide water conservation measures.
Calpine Corp., San Jose, Calif., said it has begun construction of a 115 Mw simple cycle peaking unit at Calpine's existing Auburndale energy center in Polk County, Fla. The $40 million facility is expected to be in commercial operations in time to help meet peak summer demand next summer.
KFx Inc., Denver, Col., reported its majority owned subsidiary, Pegasus Technologies Inc., closed on the purchase of the power optimization business segment of Pavilion Technologies Inc. KFx Inc. processes convert low heating value coal into clean, high energy fuel.
Peoples Energy Corp., Chicago, Ill, said it has begun an early retirement program for its nonunion employees. The company indicated about 170 employees are eligible to elect retirement under the plan. The program does not apply to company officers. Company officials said the program will save about $7 million/year.
Electric City Corp., Elk Grove Village, Ill., said it has entered into a $16 million funding agreement with CIT, a subsidiary of Tyco International Ltd., Pembroke, Bermuda; Duke Capital Partners, LLC, a unit of Duke Energy Corp., Charlotte, NC; EP Power Finance LLC, a unit of El Paso Corp., Houston; and affiliates of Morgan Stanley. Closing of the financing is subject to shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions.
Kern River Gas Transmission Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, a unit of Williams filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to more than double the amount of natural gas transported on its 922-mile pipeline system. The proposed $1 billion Kern River expansion project will provide 900 MMcfd of additional capacity from Wyoming to California and other markets by May 2003, the company said.
The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator Inc., Carmel, Ind., said it began a 45-day trial of its systems. The trials will test transmission market activities, tagging and scheduling, flowgate verification, transmission (operational) planning, security coordination and response, outage scheduling, maintenance coordination, 24 hr/day operations, and settlements and billing.