Organizers of the Oil & Gas Awards announced Monday that the 2014 finalists have been picked. Judged by more than 110 senior executives from midstream and exploration and production companies, the Oil & Gas Awards saw more than 400 companies participate across multiple categories this year. “The Awards champion companies that display best practice in the key areas of operational excellence, environmental stewardship, corporate social responsibility and excellence in health and safety. All key areas of public interest where misinformation dissipated by industry critics has been a thorn in the industry’s side.” The Oil & Gas Awards take place regionally throughout North America in the Gulf Coast, Midcontinent, Northeast, Rocky Mountains, Southwest and West Coast. Winners of the Oil & Gas Awards will be announced at the Oil & Gas Awards Gala Dinner in the relevant region. Each gala dinner will be preceded by a regional Oil & Gas Awards Industry Summit held for participating companies and organizations that have an interest in networking and learning about challenges faced in the region. The West Coast event is being held on Oct. 21 in Bakersfield, CA, while the Southwest event will be held on Oct. 23 in Dallas, TX, and the Midcontinent one on Oct. 29 in Oklahoma City, OK. For a full list of West Coast, Southwest and Midcontinent finalists for 2014, visit https://www.oilandgasawards.com/2014-finalists/. For more information on the Industry Summit and Awards Dinner, contact info@oilandgasawards.com, or call (210) 591-8471.

Calpine Corp. has agreed to buy the 809 MW combined-cycle Fore River Generating Station in North Weymouth, MA, from Exelon Corp. for $530 million. Built in 2003, the plant features two Mitsubishi 501G combustion turbines, two heat-recovery steam generators and one Mitsubishi steam turbine. The plant’s dual-fuel capability enables it to run on either natural gas or fuel oil, depending on market conditions. Calpine expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter and intends to fund the deal with cash on hand. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, antitrust review and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval.