Units of Williams Cos. Inc., Tulsa, Okla., and Duke Energy Corp., Charlotte, NC, agreed to an exchange of natural gas gathering and processing interests in Wyoming, Texas, and Oklahoma. Williams receives Duke Energy Field Services' 34% interest in the Echo Springs processing plant and gathering system near Wamsutter, Wyo. Duke Energy Field Services receives Williams's Oklahoma Hugoton gathering system and the Baker, Hobart Ranch and South Bishop gas processing plants near Baker, Okla.; Canadian, Tex.; and in Ellis County, Okla., respectively.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Wednesday approved the 80-mile US segment of the North Baja Pipeline project that will bring gas from Mexico to electric generating plants in southern California and northern Mexico. The $230 million, 215-mile pipeline will be operated by a unit of Sempra Energy, San Diego; PG&E Corp., San Francisco; and Mexico's Proxima Gas SA de CV and would carry up to 500 MMcfd of gas.
Wisconsin River Power Co., Green Bay, Wis., will install a 15 Mw, oil-fired electric generator at its facilities on the Petenwell Flowage near Necedah. The company is jointly owned by units of WPS Resources Corp., Green Bay, and Alliant Energy Corp., Madison, Wis. The generator will be operational in the fourth quarter of 2002.
TXU Europe, a unit of TXU Corp., Dallas, Tex., will shut nearly a fifth of its UK coal-fired generation at the end of March due to overcapacity and falling wholesale prices. TXU will mothball the 333 Mw Unit 12 at its 999 Mw Drakelow C power station and the 189 Mw Unit 4 at its 945 Mw High Marnham plant.
After 2 years' participation in Illinois' competitive energy market, MidAmerican Energy Co., a unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., Des Moines, Iowa, has sold more than 3 billion kw-hr of electricity and 25 bcf of natural gas. MidAmerican currently has more than 2,000 unregulated business customers in Illinois.
The Aquila subsidiary of UtiliCorp United Inc., Kansas City, Mo., and NiSource Inc., Merrillville, Ind., formed an alliance under which the two companies will seek to capitalize on market opportunities by leveraging the capabilities and knowledge of the two companies. The companies said details of the alliance are being developed and will be provided as they are available.
The US Army's Southeast Regional Medical Command has signed a $24 million energy outsourcing contract with Sempra Energy Solutions, a unit of Sempra Energy, San Diego, Calif. Measures to be implemented over the 13-year contract include improvements to the lighting systems, the building-automation systems, the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, electric motors, and steam traps.
Marriott International, New York, NY, has renewed an electricity supply contract with AES NewEnergy, a unit of AES Corp., Arlington, Va., in Consolidated Edison Inc.'s service territory. Under the contract, AES NewEnergy will provide service to seven Marriott hotels throughout New York City and Westchester County.
The New York Stock Exchange Tuesday suspended trading of Enron Corp. shares and related securities, while moving to delist the stock. Enron has a right to review the decision. But the NYSE noted Enron's stock, which traded at about $90/share in August 2000, has dropped to an average closing price of less than $1 over a consecutive 30-day trading period. Enron said its common stock will now be traded as an over-the-counter equity security under the symbol "ENRNQ."
A unit of Duke Energy Corp., Charlotte, NC, has awarded Duke/Fluor Daniel (D/FD) a contract to perform engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for three natural gas-fired, combined cycle, merchant power plants with a combined capacity of 2,420 Mw and combined value of more than $1.2 billion. The value of the D/FD contract was not disclosed. D/FD is a partnership between Duke and Fluor Corp., Aliso Viejo, Calif.
TECO Energy Inc., Tampa, Fla., completed the previously reported sale of $400 million of convertible securities. TECO Energy intends to use the proceeds to fund capital expenditures, for working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes, including repayment of short-term debt.
Canada's National Energy Board will hold a public hearing Mar. 26 on an application by Cedars Rapids Transmission Co. to reconstruct an $40 million international power line from Les Cedres, Quebec, to Cornwall, Ont. Cedars applied for a certificate to replace 71 km (44 miles) of an existing 72.8 km (45 mile) power line from Les Cedres to a connecting point in Cornwall.
SaskPower International, Calgary, has acquired 30% the Muskeg River Mine cogeneration project from ATCO Power, a unit of Atco. Ltd., Calgary. The 170 Mw plant is currently under construction at the Athabasca Oil Sands project north of Fort McMurray, Alta. The mine will use all the steam output and about half the power output with the remaining power sold into the Alberta power grid.
The UK's BP PLC and ChevronTexaco Inc. reported plans to build a $23 million 22.5 Mw wind farm at their jointly-owned Nerefco oil refinery near Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The project is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of this year and will be the first substantial use of wind technology for BP and ChevronTexaco. The power will be sold into the Dutch market.