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Ground was broken last week for a $275 million, 540 MW naturalgas-fired power plant in Arizona by San Jose, CA-based CalpineCorp., and close observers of the California electric restructuringare indicating this may be the start of more to come throughout theSouthwest.

Aurora Natural Gas of Dallas sold its New England retailbusiness to Select Energy of Berlin, CT, for $26 million. Select isa wholly owned subsidiary of Northeast Utilities.

Wyoming Interstate’s proposed $78 million Medicine Bow Lateralin the Powder River Basin won preliminary approval from FERC lastweek. In a draft order, the Commission said the pipeline, whichwould provide 260,000 Dth/d of new firm take-away transportationcapacity for Wyoming producers, would be in the public interest,subject to a final order following environmental review.

Wyoming Interstate’s proposed $78 million Medicine Bow Lateralin the Powder River Basin won preliminary approval from FERCyesterday. In a draft order, the Commission said the pipeline,which would provide 260,000 Dth/d of new firm take-awaytransportation capacity for Wyoming producers, would be in thepublic interest, subject to a final order following environmentalreview.

Energy East Corp., parent of New York State Electric & Gas,offered to buy Connecticut Energy Corp. (CNE) for $617 millionFriday, paving the way for the combined utility to add 160,000 newgas customers and at the same time continuing to shrink the numberof pure gas utilities. The board of directors for each company hasagreed to the deal.

Energy East Corp., parent of New York State Electric &Gas, offered to buy Connecticut Energy Corp. (CNE) for $617 million Friday, paving the way for the combined utility to add 160,000 new gas customers and at the same time continuing to shrink the number of pure gas utilities. The board of directors for each company has agreed to the deal.

Avista Power said Tuesday it purchased a 20-acre site inLordsburg, NM from TNP Technologies and plans to put a $70 millionpower plant into service on the acreage by early 2000. The terms ofthe sale were not disclosed. The land contains four oldergenerators, which were in the process of being updated. All permitsand licenses will transfer to Avista Power and the transaction isexpected to close within 60 days.

Williams told the North Carolina Utilities Commission Wednesdayit may seek contribution from North Carolina’s $200 million of newnatural gas bond funds to provide natural gas from its Transcopipeline to five counties in northeastern North Carolina.

Unitil Corp. of Hampton, NH, acquired a minority interest inNorth American Power Brokers Inc. for $3 million in cash, and haslicensed and will deploy North American Power’s Internet-basedtechnology for electricity and gas sales to retail consumers.