The Gas Research Institute has offered a proposed budget of $98million for approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission tofund research and development projects for 2000. The funding wouldcover $72.6 million for 43 Core projects, widely beneficial to theentire industry and gas users and $25.4 million for 22 Non-Coreprojects targeted to specific activities and major market segments.In addition to the FERC-directed portion of the budget, GRIanticipates receiving about $53 million in cofunding from industryand govenrment sources in 2000. The filing Tuesday marked the thirdyear of the seven-year transition to an all-voluntary R&Dprogram. In 2001 the funding through FERC will drop to $70 million,then $60 million in 2002-2004. At the end of that period thefunding will be voluntary.

PG&E Corporation has changed the name of its competitivegeneration unit from U.S. Generating to PG&E Generating(PG&E Gen) to more clearly identify it as a member of theCorporation’s family of companies. Founded in 1989, the generatingcompany quickly built a successful track record as one of thenation’s leading independent power producers, growing from a modestportfolio of less than 100 MW to a portfolio of 30 operating powerplants with more than 6,500 MW of capacity.

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