Centered

Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles’ State of the State address this weekcentered on what could become the legacy of his administration: an1,800-mile natural gas pipeline to transport the state’s 36 Tcf tothe marketplace. With energy prices and energy consumption burstingat the seams, Knowles is dedicating the remainder of his term,which expires in 2003, to the gas project.

With reserves dropping due mostly to in-state transmissionproblems causing potential shortfalls centered in the northern halfof the state, California’s state-chartered independent systemoperator (Cal-ISO) went after emergency supplies Tuesday byinvoking the federal order issued by DOE Secretary Bill Richardsonlast week as California faced the prospect of rolling blackoutsbecause it reserves dipped below 1.5% at one point (Dec. 13).

Three years ago, Reliant Energy was a Texas-based,Texas-centered utility, but that’s no longer true. On Friday, theHouston-based utility improved its presence in the mid-Atlanticregion, completing a $2.1 billion acquisition from Sithe Energiesof 21 power plants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland (PJM).The facilities together total 4,276 MW of net generating capacity,and bring Reliant’s domestic generating capacity to 23 MMW.

Three years ago, Reliant Energy was a Texas-based,Texas-centered utility, but that’s no longer true. On Friday, theHouston-based utility improved its presence in the Mid-Atlanticregion, completing a $2.1 billion acquisition from Sithe Energiesof 21 power plants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland (PJM).The facilities together total 4,276 MW of net generating capacityand bring Reliant’s domestic generating capacity to 23,000 MW.

Western Gas Resources’ production subsidiary Lance Oil &amp Gasis offering for sale a working interest in the Jonah Field, a largebasin-centered gas accumulation in the northwest portion of theGreen River Basin in southwest Wyoming. Western intends to retainall of its gathering and processing rights in the area following asale.