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El Paso Energy yesterday announced subsidiaries would developits interest in the Prince prospect, installing a multi-purposetension leg platform (TLP), in the Ewing Bank Block 958 unit in theGulf of Mexico.

Chicago-based GRI and GE Zenith Controls have signed a researchcontract to develop an Advanced Grid Interconnected SwitchgearSystem for the distributed generation (DG) market. The new product— expected in the marketplace by late 2001 — will build onexisting GE Zenith technology to allow for low-cost, rapidinterconnection (plug-and-play) of distributed systems within theelectric grid. DG is the integrated or stand-alone use of small,modular electric generation close to the point of consumption. Itis installed for the benefit of the specific customer, the electricsystem or both. Three independent trends — utility industryrestructuring, increasing system capacity needs, and technologyadvancements — are concurrently laying the groundwork for thepossible widespread introduction of DG. “We expect the jointproduct development effort will offer the advantage of a quantumleap in technology that will kick-start the proliferation of DG,”said David Leslie, GE Zenith Controls paralleling switchgearproduct manager. “This product will significantly lower the initialcost of interconnection equipment, and will be simple to install,commission, operate and maintain — providing a major boost todistributed generation markets.

Pinnacle West Energy and Houston-based Reliant Energy PowerGeneration, Inc. announced yesterday an agreement to jointlydevelop power plant projects in the Southwest totaling more than2,500 MW of generation in Arizona and Nevada, Pinnacle West Energyannounced today.

The Turbo Genset Co. Ltd.; DTE Energy Technologies, a subsidiaryof DTE Energy Co.; and Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. arepartnering to develop a 333 kW generator set targeted fordistributed generation for small to medium commercial andindustrial customers and micro-grids serving both residential andcommercial development projects.

Progas Storage and Marketing, based in Abilene, TX (unrelated toCalgary-based ProGas), announced plans last week to develop 40 Bcfof working storage capacity along major interstate pipelines in theIllinois and Appalachian basins over the next four years.

Progas Storage and Marketing, based in Abilene, TX (unrelated toCalgary-based ProGas), announced plans yesterday to develop 40 Bcfof working storage capacity along major interstate pipelines in theIllinois and Appalachian basins over the next four years.

Growing power generation and LDC demand for gas have promptedPeoples Energy and The Coastal Corp. to team up to develop a130-mile gas pipeline from Indiana to Wisconsin. The pipe, aimed atincremental growth markets, is intended to serve electric powerplants and local utility growth markets in northern Illinois,northwestern Indiana and Wisconsin beginning in late 2001. Initialcapacity will be 1.4 Bcf/d. According to the North AmericanElectric Reliability Council, the region will need more than 8,200megawatts of additional generating capacity by 2005.

Dynegy Inc. yesterday announced plans to develop its firstmerchant power plant to serve the growing electricity market inFlorida.

Trigen-Cinergy Solutions (TCS) signed a 20-year energy servicescontract with Eastman Kodak Co. to serve Kodak Park. The 1,300-acrecampus, with 160 major buildings, is in Rochester, NY, and isKodak’s main manufacturing site. TCS has been selected energymanager for steam and electric utility services, including 196megawatts of onsite electric generation capacity. TCS also willmanage all fuel procurement for Kodak Park. Transfer of operationsis expected to be in January.