Generating

American Electric Power Co. (AEP) is selling four power plants in Indiana and Ohio, with a combined 5,200 MW of generating capacity, for $2.17 billion to a joint venture (JV) of private equity firms Blackstone Group LP and ArcLight Capital Partners LLC.

A proposed700 MW natural gas-fired facility near Beloit, WI, has received verbal approval from Wisconsin regulators, backer Alliant Energy Corp. said Thursday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved Moxie Freedom LLC’s air quality plan, satisfying the state’s emissions control requirements for the company’s planned 1,050 MW natural gas-fired power plant in the northeast part of the state.

Duke Energy Floridaplans to issue on Oct. 8 a request for proposals (RFP) to supply 1,640 megawatts of generating capacity beginning in 2018. Proposals will compete with Duke Energy’s self-build option consisting of a highly-efficient, combined-cycle, natural gas unit to be located in Citrus County FL. “We have a need for significant generating capacity in 2018 and through the RFP process, we will be able to identify the most cost-effective, safe and reliable generation source for our customers,” said Alex Glenn, Duke Energy state president for Florida. Information on the RFP is available atwww.duke-energy.com/floridarfp. An RFP pre-release meeting is planned for Oct. 2, and a meeting for interested bidders will be held on Oct. 18.

Total natural gas used for power generation in the United States was down 14% between January and July 2013 compared with the same seven month period in 2012, due primarily to higher gas prices relative to coal prices this year, according to a report issued Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Dallas, TX-based Panda Power Funds has completed the acquisition and financing of Moxie Energy’s planned 829 MW natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle Liberty generating station, which will be located in Bradford County, PA.

The minority 20% share in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (Songs) lessens the overall costs and operational impact, but Sempra Energy and its San Diego Gas and Electric Co. (SDG&E) combination utility will deal with material consequences of the decision, according to officials.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and others are politicizing the almost 18-month shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Southern California, Edison International CEO Ted Craver said Wednesday. The “favorable economics” for restarting the 2,200 MW plant are diminishing with the passage of time and no action by federal regulators, he told financial analysts in New York City.

Natural gas cash prices nationally added on average a nickel in Tuesday’s trading as traders are beginning to see the dynamic of warm weather generating additional power generation requirements from gas-fired plants.