News
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CPUC Approves Contract for Biomass Repowering at Coal-fired Facility
LCG, February 5, 2010--The California Public Utilities Commission approved a power purchase agreement between PG&E and Mt. Poso Cogeneration Company, LLC for renewable energy from the Mt. Poso Cogeneration facility, located near Bakersfield, California.
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Record Year for New Wind Power Installations in the U.S.
LCG, January 29, 2010--The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced the U.S. wind industry set a new record by installing nearly 10,000 MW of new generating capacity last year. With the additions, the wind turbine generating capacity in the U.S. now totals over 35,000 MW.
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Industry News
El Paso Electric Agrees to Refunds Related to Manipulation
LCG, Dec. 6, 2002--An investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission into transactions involving utility El Paso Electric's generation portfolio has resulted in the company stating that it was connected with Enron Corp.'s efforts to distort the California electricity market.According to a document exchanged between company attorneys and FERC trial lawyers, El Paso Electric stated that Enron used the utility's assets to carry out manipulation schemes, such as "Fat Boy", and possibly "Ricochet." As part of a proposed settlement, El Paso Electric would pay $14 million in refunds and discontinue trading of wholesale power at market rates for two years. The company, which owns generating plants in west Texas and southern New Mexico, is not connected with El Paso Corp., a larger, natural gas firm.The settlement may be rejected or modified, subject to the response of an administrative law judge and FERC representatives. The case has implications for ongoing investigations by California. Gov. Gray Davis' deputy legal affairs secretary, William Kissinger, said "We can't judge whether this is a slap on the wrist or a pinch or something more than that. It's a black box."Enron and El Paso's business dealings gained in significance in 1997, when Enron essentially took control of the utility's trading arm. While the utility provided only 0.3 percent of needed wholesale power to the California Independent System Operator, Enron may have exacerbated the energy crisis of 2000 and 2001 by having power available, although unsold or "parked", until it decided to offer power to the desperate ISO at much higher rates. Other companies with previous ties to Enron are being investigated for what may be similar dealings.
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