Avista Advantage, a subsidiary of Avista Corp., has completed aninvestment agreement for an undisclosed amount with Wayne, PA-basedEnerTech Capital Partners to help refine, expand and market theSpokane, WA-based company’s suite of facility cost managementservice offerings. The agreement completes Avista Advantage’s firstround of private equity financing. Gary G. Ely, Avista Corp.’sacting CEO, said the agreement “will focus new attention on thisimportant market segment, and create new value growth opportunitiesfor both companies.” EnerTech, one of the Safeguard Scientificsfunds, is based in Wayne, PA. It specializes in companies poisedfor growth through deregulation, targeting the convergence of theenergy, utility and telecommunications industries.

Cleco Energy LLC has purchased 160 miles of pipeline from TexasSoutheastern Gas Co. and acquired 33 miles of Southland Energy Co.pipeline from International Paper for $3.2 million. Cleco Energy isa unit of Cleco Midstream Resources Inc., a subsidiary of ClecoCorp., based in Pineville, LA. The Texas Southeastern pipelinesserve six municipalities, two local distribution companies, 11industrial customers and three public authorities in southeastTexas. The Southland Energy pipeline runs from the Seven Oaks Fieldin Polk County, TX to an interconnect with existing Cleco pipelinesin Lufkin, TX.

Danbury, CT-based FuelCell Energy Inc. has awarded contracts fortwo power plants using the company’s Direct FuelCells for coal mineand remote location applications. The U.S. Department of energyNational Energy Technology Laboratory received the first contractfor $5.4 million to design, construct and operate a 250 kW DFC,using coal methane gas at the Harrison Mining Corp. mine in Cadiz,OH. The second contract for $100,000 went to the U.S. Coast GuardResearch and Development Center in Groton, CT for a remotelocation, 3 kW fuel cell power system using methanol for fuel. Itwill be installed by the second quarter of 2001 at the Cape HenryLighthouse at Fort Story in Virginia.

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