NACE International has opened a Pipeline and Tank Training Field in Houston, which will be used to train students in corrosion control, simulating conditions surrounding storage tanks and buried pipe. The field site will serve as a tool to certify personnel worldwide, and it is equipped to illustrate several techniques and survey methods to test and monitor the performance of pipe systems. NACE is a professional technical society that provides education and communicates information on the effects of corrosion. To learn more about the training program, call Ray Poltorak or Trevor Eade at (281) 228-6200.

Dominion and Anker Energy jointly announced plans to develop a new coal and coal waste-fired electric power station and mining complex in Upshur County, WV. Under terms of an agreement between the two companies, Dominion would construct, own and operate the 450 MW station, which would utilize state-of-the-art clean coal technology and would burn more than 65% coal waste. Anker Energy would provide all of the facility’s fuel from on-site surface mining operations. If developed, the facility is expected to begin commercial operations by the fourth quarter 2005, pending federal, state and local permitting, including air permits from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. The proposed generating station would operate as a merchant power provider, supplying electricity to the western portion of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland wholesale power grid. The project represents a potential investment of $600 million in Upshur County.

PG&E Corp.’s National Energy Group unveiled an agreement with the city of Denton, TX, to purchase and operate the municipality’s electric generation facilities and provide a five-year full service requirements wholesale power supply contract. Under the agreement, approved this week by the Denton City Council and Public Utility Board, the National Energy Group will acquire the 176 MW, natural gas-fired Spencer generating station, as well as the Lewisville and Ray Roberts hydro facilities. Also, over the next five years the National Energy Group, through its power trading subsidiary, will supply wholesale power to meet the city’s electricity needs. Denton will continue to distribute power to its customers.

TECO Power Services and Panda Energy announced that they have closed on a five-year bank financing for the two largest independent power projects in the nation. The $2.2 billion transaction, which includes $1.7 billion in non-recourse debt and a $500 million equity bridge loan, will cover construction costs for the TECO Power/Panda joint venture’s Union power station (also known as El Dorado) and Gila River power station. The two plants represent more than 4,500 MW of new, highly efficient generating capacity. Citigroup and Societe Generale are serving as the lead arrangers for the financing, which closed with an initial group of 18 banks acting as underwriters. The full syndication is expected to close in late June.

Mirant began commercial operation of a 248 MW, natural gas-fired combined cycle unit at its Bosque County, TX, power plant on Wednesday, marking the second phase of the plant. The first phase of the plant, which includes two simple-cycle peaking units, produces approximately 154 MW each and began commercial operation in June 2000. The total output for the facility with all units is around 556 MW. Mirant will provide power from the new units to help meet the growing electricity needs in north Texas and will market electricity through its risk management and marketing operation. The 248 MW of additional electricity to be produced at the Bosque County plant brings Mirant a step closer to its target of owning or controlling 30,000 MW in North America by 2004.

FPL Energy LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group Inc., announced that it will construct, operate and own a 517 MW, natural gas-fired power plant in Blythe, CA. Located midway between Los Angeles and Phoenix, the new plant will be one of the largest independent power generation projects in the state. Electricity generated at the plant will have the capacity to power more than 500,000 homes in the state, and its output will be sold in the state’s wholesale market. Given the plant’s proximity to Arizona and Nevada, its power could be sold into those adjacent markets as conditions warrant. Construction of the advanced technology, combined-cycle facility began in May 2001. The plant, 200 miles east of Los Angeles, is expected to begin commercial operation in early 2003. Caithness Energy LLC, the original developer of the project, will participate in the plant’s development.

A new 537 MW plant, owned and operated by a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., is now generating electricity for customers on the Midwest power grid. Grand opening ceremonies were held this week for the Cordova energy center, located just northeast of the Quad Cities. The $270 million plant is operated by Cordova Energy Co., a MidAmerican Energy subsidiary. Construction on the intermediate load plant began in the fall of 1999. Commercial operation will begin later this month.

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