Generating

The first merchant electric generating plant proposed followingindustry restructuring in California more than three years agofinessed a crucial court challenge Tuesday and moved toward aconstruction start-up early next year on a $300-350 million, 700 MWplant on a former Air Force base in the high desert 75 milesnortheast of Los Angeles.

Frederickson Power acquired a partially built gas-fired 249 MWelectricity generating facility located in Fredrickson, WA from theBonneville Power Administration for $25.1 million. FredericksonPower is a partnership between Westcoast power and EPCOR PowerDevelopment Corporation. “Completion of the Frederickson Powerproject will provide an alternative to existing hydro-electricpower facilities that can not meet increased demand,” saidWestcoast Power President Jeff Meyers. “It will produce energysafely and efficiently with a preferred fuel source which supportsefforts to improve local air quality and addresses climate changeconcerns.” The plant is expected to cost $160 million and has acomercial operation date set for the middle of 2002.

ONEOK broke ground Friday just north of Oklahoma City on a newnatural gas-run advanced electricity generating plant.The 300 MWplant, which will be owned and operated by ONEOK Power Marketing,will use the latest gas turbine technology to provide electricityfor utilities as well as other purchasers. This marks ONEOK’sfirst venture into the growing natural gas-powered electricitygeneration market. Intended as a “peaking plant,” the facilitywill provide electricity during the summer periods of peak demand.The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority has already signed acontract to purchase 25% of the plant’s total capacity. ONEOKPresident and Chief Operating Officer David Kyle had this to sayabout ONEOK’s new project, “The natural gas-fueled plant that willbe built here is symbolic of not only a new direction for us, butfor the state as well.” The plant’s site is strategicallypositioned near Oklahoma Gas & Electric’s electric transmissionlines and one of ONEOK’s own natural gas storage facilities. Thegas-burning turbines will be provided by General Electric at anestimated cost of $70 million and will be in operation by thesummer of 2001.

San Jose’s Calpine Corp. has gobbled up the development rightsto build, own and operate a 540 MW natural gas-fired electricitygenerating facility in the energy-hungry Midwest. During periods ofhigh demand, the new Fremont Energy Center in Ohio, which isscheduled to go online in mid-2003, could generate more than 700MW.

The acquisition and management of natural gas supplies is a keypart of San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp.’s five-year strategy tohave generating plants totaling 25,000 MW by the end of 2004, theaggressive merchant power plant developer/operator’s seniorexecutives told the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting lastweek.

PG&E Corp.’s National Energy Group began construction on theLa Paloma Generating Plant, a 1,048 MW gas-fired, combined-cyclefacility expected to begin operating in the summer of 2001. Theplant is estimated to burn about 180,000 MMcf/d, and Kern-Mojave isthe closest pipeline source, a spokesman said.

Duke/Fluor Daniel has been awarded a contract by West GeorgiaGenerating Co. L.P., a subsidiary of Sonat Energy Services, toprovide engineering, procurement and construction services for a650 MW dual fuel, gas and distillate oil-fired power plant in UpsonCounty, GA. The power plant will be designed to use four PG7241(FA) gas turbines in simple-cycle operation. The $180 million powerplant, which will be built within the Thomaston Industrial Park inUpson County, is expected to be fully operational by June 1, 2000.A significant portion of the electricity from the plant will besold to Georgia Power under an existing power sales agreement.

ComEd announced it plans to sell the Collins generating stationand the company’s peaking units in conjunction with the sale of itscoal-fired generation business. The company said it received anumber of attractive proposals for all the power plants during thefirst phase of its coal plant auction. A “short list'” of qualifiedbidders on all the plants is being compiled for the next phase.

Dynegy is moving forward with final permitting and constructionof its 800 MW generating facility in Rockingham County, NC.Construction will begin upon receipt of final environmental permitsand the plant will be in service in June of 2000.