Smooth

In another example of natural gas-fired power generation helping smooth out intermittent wind-generated supplies, the federal Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and independent generator Calpine Corp. announced a new pilot project deal involving 75 MW of “generation flexibility” from a Calpine plant in Oregon.

While Democrats and Republicans tried to smooth out their differences in the comprehensive financial regulatory reform bill, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) grew impatient and scheduled the first test vote on the bill for Monday (April 26).

FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff attempted to smooth the waters surrounding his recent prediction of an upgraded electric grid, bolstered by fully integrated renewables but with few, if any, new coal or nuclear generators, in Washington, DC, last week.

Just when it appeared that MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.’s acquisition of Constellation Energy Group would be a smooth transaction, Electricte de France (EDF) International SA, the largest power producer in Europe, has offered to acquire Constellation Energy for $8.50/share more than what Berkshire Hathaway’s MidAmerican Energy has bid. But MidAmerican Energy did not see the rival bid as a setback.

What 2006 will bring at FERC is a big unknown. But the year 2005 saw a smooth changing of the guard at FERC as Chairman Joseph Kelliher took over the reins from Pat Wood in mid-year, and was marked by key policy changes and clarifications on the natural gas side, along with agency approval of several key liquefied natural gas (LNG), pipeline and storage projects.

The year 2005 saw a smooth change of the guard at FERC as Chairman Joseph Kelliher took over the reins from Pat Wood in mid-year, and was marked by significant policy changes and clarifications on the natural gas side, along with agency approval of several key liquefied natural gas (LNG), pipeline and storage projects.

A move that could smooth the way for private investment in Mexico’s energy sector won approval last weekend by the country’s hardliners, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which has long opposed any attempts at privatization.

A move that could smooth the way for private investment in Mexico’s energy sector won approval last weekend by the country’s hardliners, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which has long opposed any attempts at privatization.

While KeySpan LNG has filed a federal court lawsuit to smooth the path for its proposed Rhode Island LNG import terminal, FERC Chairman Pat Wood is taking a jawboning approach, setting a meeting in Washington later this month with federal and state political leaders.