After multiple delays, Williams Partners LP‘s expanded Geismar olefins plant in Louisiana has begun manufacturing ethylene for sale. The commissioning culminates the plant’s rebuild and expansion project. Capacity at the expanded Geismar plant is 1.95 billion pounds of ethylene per year. Williams Partners’ share of the total capacity of the expanded plant is about 1.7 billion pounds per year (see Daily GPI, Feb 3; Dec. 31, 2014). An explosion and fire in June 2013 at the facility killed one person and injured dozens (see Daily GPI, June 14, 2013).

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) on Monday filed with the California Public Utilities Commission for permission to embark on a five-year, $500 million effort to build out a network of 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations around its service territory, covering most of the northern half of the state. The chargers would be located at commercial and public locations, including multi-family dwellings, retail centers and workplaces, a PG&E spokesperson said. Other major electric utilities are expected to follow suit with similar proposals for EVs as they have for natural gas fueling services in California, Oregon and other states (see Daily GPI, Jan. 30; Dec. 24, 2013).