Commence

Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) has asked FERC for authorization to commence service no later than June 29 on the Totem Gas Storage Field Project in Adams County, CO. The company said it was nearing completion of construction of the initial phase and injection of base gas. It proposes to then begin injections of up to 6 Bcf of working gas. The sole customer for the facility is Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo). “It is estimated that 90% to 100% of base gas will be injected by June 29,” CIG said in its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filing. “Work on the gas dehydration and conditioning plant will continue for several months.” Sustained withdrawal of storage gas will be available after the successful injection of PSCo’s working gas. FERC approved the Totem Gas Storage facility just over a year ago. It involved the conversion of a depleted oil and gas field near Denver for storage use to meet the existing peak-day and load-growth needs for local gas distribution systems along the Colorado Front Range area. The total planned capacity was 10.7 Bcf, composed of 7 Bcf of working gas and 3.7 Bcf of base gas. Totem storage is designed to connect with CIG’s existing pipeline network via CIG’s 164-mile High Plains expansion project, which FERC approved in March 2008.

Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) has asked FERC for authorization to commence service no later than June 29 on the Totem Gas Storage Field Project in Adams County, CO. The company said it was nearing completion of construction of the initial phase and injection of base gas. It proposes to then begin injections of up to 6 Bcf of working gas. The sole customer for the facility is Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo).

FERC on Monday granted Guardian Pipeline LLC’s request to commence service on the Guardian Expansion and Extension Project (G-II) in eastern Wisconsin.

Xcel Energy’s board has signed off on plans to commence an exchange offer under which Xcel Energy would acquire all of the outstanding publicly held shares of its subsidiary, NRG Energy Inc. Xcel Energy already owns 74% of NRG. More broadly, Xcel Energy laid out an ambitious plan for NRG this year, including the unloading of approximately $1.9 billion of existing assets, most of which are based in the international arena.

Energy Exploration Technologies (NXT) said Tuesday that pipeline construction would commence in the first week of the new year to connect the company’s Poblano-area natural gas wells in Sublette County, WY to existing transmission lines in the vicinity of the Jonah gas field.

With December natural gas usage bills hitting extraordinarilyhard in Illinois this year, city and state legislators have set outin search of clues as to why gas prices are through the roof.Spurred by the urgings of Gov. George H. Ryan and variouslegislators, the Illinois Commerce Commission voted 5-0 to open aninvestigation into this winter’s natural gas price spikes. The ICCalso directed its staff to put together its final report within 60to 120 days (see Daily GPI, Jan. 10).

Charlotte, NC-based Cogentrix Energy is prepared to commenceconstruction on a 816 MW natural gas-fired electric generationplant near Sterlington, LA. The company announced yesterday that ithad secured financing through Bank of America, N.A.

Constellation Power Source’s affiliate Holland Energy LLC, plansto commence construction next month on a 650 MW natural gas-firedgenerating facility to be located in Holland Township, IL. Thepower will be used to meet the needs of the wholesale power market.

Constellation Power Source’s affiliate Holland Energy LLC, plansto commence construction next month on a 650 MW natural gas-firedgenerating facility to be located in Holland Township, IL. Thepower will be used to meet the needs of the wholesale power market.