Francisco

As the largest private-sector hydroelectric power plant owner-operator, San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has begun a drumbeat for more hydropower.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has now filled its expanded senior leadership team for gas operations under Executive Vice President Nick Stavropoulos, who joined the San Francisco-based combination utility last year to head up a reorganized and more independent gas operating unit. Kevin Knapp signed on as vice president for gas distribution in March, bringing 30 years of industry experience, including National Grid and KeySpan; and Sean Kolassa assumed the new position of vice president, investment planning in February, bringing 15 years of gas experience. In addition, Roland Trevino, vice president for public safety and integrity management, joined PG&E last August after being a senior director at El Paso Natural Gas in Colorado. They join Mel Christopher, senior director for gas system operations, who also brought 30 years of gas industry when he joined PG&E last June. The other gas team leaders include PG&E veterans Kirk Johnson, vice president for gas transmission; Sumeet Singh, senior director of asset knowledge management who previously headed gas engineering operations; and Jane Yura, vice president for standards and policies.

The Federal Reserve Board took notice of an expanding shale gas industry in parts of the country as the national economy grew at a moderate pace, according to a report released Wednesday.

San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) said Thursday it has hired a seasoned senior executive to run a realigned natural gas organization following the announcement that it obtained a decision from state regulators on its settlement in a $1 billion general rate case.

A centerpiece of California’s precedent-setting climate change law (AB 32) was dealt a blow by a San Francisco Superior Court March 17 ruling that could require a full-blown environmental impact report (EIR) before the proposed cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be implemented. It was set to be effective next year.

A centerpiece of California’s precedent-setting climate change law (AB 32) was dealt a blow by a San Francisco Superior Court ruling released last Monday that could require a full-blown environmental impact report (EIR) before the proposed cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be implemented. It was set to be effective next year, but could have to wait until at least to 2013.

While still posting in excess of $1 billion in profits for all of last year, San Francisco-based PG&E Corp. reported Thursday that it took $283 million, or 43 cents/share, in charges for its utility’s fatal San Bruno transmission pipeline rupture last September.

Stung by strong customer and community criticism, San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on Tuesday announced a five-part, multi-year effort to greatly strengthen the safety and reliability of its natural gas transmission pipeline system. Called Pipeline 2020, the program will augment initiatives implemented by the combination utility in the wake of the Sept. 9 pipeline explosion and fire that killed seven people in San Bruno, CA.

Calpine Corp. announced the death of William J. Patterson, 48, chairman of its board of directors since January 2008. A private investor and philanthropist in the San Francisco Bay Area, Patterson was a managing director of SPO Partners & Co., an approximate 21% owner of Calpine since it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2008. Prior to that Patterson chaired the creditors committee that steered Calpine through the bankruptcy process. Ultimately he helped rebuild the board and management team. Calpine said “in due course” its board will meet and appoint a new chairman. Patterson died Sept. 24.