Independent Power Producer Cogentrix Energy has signed anagreement with Bechtel Enterprises Inc. to acquire Bechtel’sownership interests in 12 electric generating facilities, plus afractional share of Iroquois Pipeline. Most of the properties wereon the market as the result of PG&E Corp.’s acquisition lastfall of Bechtel’s interest in U.S. Generating Co. Regulatoryconstraints barred PG&E from acquiring certain of the USGenassets.

Cogentrix, of Charlotte, NC, is acquiring a net equity interestof 360 MW in a diverse generating portfolio that is made up of over2,424 MW in total plant capacity in the Northeast and Florida. Including an acquisition of two operating cogeneration plants fromLS Power Corp., announced last week, and the Bechtel purchase,Cogentrix will increase its generation capacity by 725 MW to about1,700 MW. Prior to the recently announced additions Cogentrixprimarily had operations in coal-fired generation in the Southeast.

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