The rush to build new gas-fired generation has become nothingless than a frenzy, according to a new report which shows thatsince summer the tally on new generation projects has grown 61% to59,000 MW. That’s up from 49,463 MW reported in late-September, and36,600 MW in July, said Resource Data International’s (RDI) EnergyInsight (EI), an Internet-based analytical service that keeps aclose watch on the power generation market.

Of the 131 merchant power plants in development or beingplanned, about 109, or 48,970 MW, are gas-fired, 6% are coal-firedand 11% are a mix of other fuels, RDI said. In late-September, thetotal number of merchant power plants was 113.

Development activity in the Northeast leads the nation. “In theNortheast, some 23,500 MW of merchant plant capacity is now plannedor under construction in five states: Massachusetts, Maine,Connecticut, New York and New Hampshire.” Development timeschedules in the Northeast suggest that roughly 5,200 MW ofcapacity could come on line by the end of 2000, [and] another13,400 MW would be available by the end of 2001.”

RDI noted 11,325 MW of merchant plant capacity is proposed forthe Western States Coordinating Council (WSCC). Over half, 6,033MW, is sited in California. Texas is living up to its name byhaving the second largest concentration of merchant power plants -a total of 15 plants representing 8,063 MW. About 5,500 MW isexpected to come on line by year-end 2000.

Two particular U.S. power planning regions-the FloridaReliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) and the Mid-Atlantic AreaCouncil (MAAC)- are “seeing heightened attention in recent weeks,”RDI found. As recently as last June, less than 500 MW of merchantplant capacity was proposed for FRCC, RDI said, but now there isnearly 2,500 MW of merchant plant activity planned, mostly to meetFlorida’s “immediate need for new generating capacity.”And withinthe MACC -where in its June tally RDI found a total of 1,938 MW ofmerchant plant capacity-the number has now climbed to nearly 3,300MW.

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