Placed

Indicative of the demands placed on California’s aging fleet ofin-state natural gas-fired electricity generating plants in thelast half of 2000, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co.utility established its all-time sendout record of 1.142 Tcf,eclipsing the previous record year (1991) by almost 100 Bcf.

Cinergy Corp., a Cincinnati-based diversified energy company,placed an order with Capstone Turbine for $1.5 million. The 52-unitorder of microturbine power systems is part of Cinergy’s newdistribution agreement as one of Capstone Turbine’s major U.S.energy service providers. “The Capstone MicroTurbine is a majordevelopment in ultra-low-emission, ultra-low-maintenance powergeneration. These systems are about the size of a largerefrigerator and are intended to have virtually the sameset-it-and-forget operation profile,” said James E. Rogers, CEO ofCinergy. “Our short-term plans are to deploy these systems usingcrafted energy solution programs for customers that have animmediate need for small capacity additions, high power quality andhigh reliability. We expect, in time, distributed resources likethe Capstone MicroTurbine will reduce peak-demand strain on theelectric grid.”

The fallout from FERC’s decision earlier this week that placedthe future of the proposed Northeast-bound Independence Pipeline injeopardy continued yesterday, with the criticism this time comingfrom Capitol Hill.

This Wednesday’s FERC meeting promises to be a blockbuster. Forone, the Commission has placed the hotly contestedSupplyLink-Independence Pipeline-MarketLink projects on the agenda,essentially thumbing its nose at New Jersey Gov. Christine ToddWhitman’s request for at least a 60-day delay [CP97-319, CP97-315,CP98-540].

Next Wednesday’s FERC meeting promises to be a blockbuster. TheCommission has placed the hotly contested SupplyLink-IndependencePipeline-MarketLink projects on the agenda, essentially thumbingits nose at New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman’s request for a60-day delay [CP97-319, CP97-315, CP98-540].

FERC yesterday approved the mergers of Illinova Corp. and DynegyInc. and Dominion Resources Inc. and Consolidated Natural Gas(CNG). But it placed conditions on its blessing of the lattermerger transaction, citing competitive concerns.

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), which represents thenation’s major gas producers, last week placed its president,Nicholas J. Bush, on administrative leave without pay in the wakeof an investigation and a subsequent lawsuit. The suit accuses himof fraud and misappropriating more than $2.4 million from the groupsince the late 1980s. The D.C. Superior Court, where the suit wasfiled, has issued a temporary restraining order against Bush andhas continued the case until Feb. 26 [Docket No. 1028-99].

Williams announced yesterday that its Cherokee expansion projecthas been placed into service, increasing capacity on theTranscontinental system by about 87 MMDth/d to provide additionalannual firm transportation capacity to serve markets in Georgia.

Vastar Resources has placed much of its hopes for the future inthe Gulf of Mexico as evidenced by its recent deal to acquireinterests in 23 producing fields through a three-way deal withAtlantic Richfield and Mobil (See Daily GPI Aug. 5, 1998). However,the company realizes it is not alone in pinning its hopes on theGulf and was wise to begin its Gulf of Mexico program when it did.