Substantial

Following through on its long-term objective of replacing substantial oil-fired generation with natural gas combined cycle power, Florida Power & Light outlined a new project to meet customer growth and increased use of electricity by expanding at its existing power plant sites in Martin and Manatee counties. The proposal would add 1,900 MW of new, cleaner-burning natural gas-fired combined-cycle generation by mid-2005 and follows similar actions at its Fort Myers and Sanford power facilities in 2000 and 2001.

Following through on its long-term objective of replacing substantial oil-fired generation with natural gas combined cycle power, Florida Power & Light outlined a new project to meet customer growth and increased use of electricity by expanding at its existing power plant sites in Martin and Manatee counties. The proposal would add 1,900 MW of new, cleaner-burning natural gas-fired combined-cycle generation by mid-2005 and follows similar actions at its Fort Myers and Sanford power facilities in 2000 and 2001.

The American Gas Association’s weekly gas storage report has been the cause of “substantial and largely unwarranted price volatility in the natural gas marketplace,” the American Public Gas Association (APGA) said last week in comments regarding the planned continuation of the AGA report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). APGA said it will be EIA’s duty, when it takes up the storage survey next spring, to make sure that “unwarranted” price volatility does not continue.

The American Gas Association’s weekly gas storage report has been the cause of “substantial and largely unwarranted price volatility in the natural gas marketplace,” the American Public Gas Association said this week in comments regarding the planned continuation of the AGA report by the Energy Information Administration. APGA said it will be EIA’s duty, when it takes up the storage survey next spring, to make sure that “unwarranted” price volatility does not continue.

With substantial interests in two privately-owned natural gas utilities that supply about one-third of the gas in Argentina, San Diego, CA-based Sempra Energy said last week that the South American nation’s current political and economic upheaval has had no adverse impact thus far on its energy infrastructure investments, but a spokesperson said the company was “obviously monitoring the situation closely.”

With substantial interests in two privately-owned natural gas utilities that supply about one-third of the gas in Argentina, San Diego, CA-based Sempra Energy said Monday the South American nation’s current political and economic upheaval has had no adverse impact thus far on its energy infrastructure investments, but a spokesperson said the company was “obviously monitoring the situation closely.”

CMS Trunkline LNG said it intends to nearly double the sendout capacity of its Lake Charles, LA, facility to 1.2 Bcf/d from 630 MMcf/d to accommodate a substantial increase in LNG imports, particularly by BG LNG Services, which signed a 22-year contract in May for all of the existing capacity at the Lake Charles terminal. Under the $150-200 million expansion plan, CMS would add a second unloading dock, a fourth storage tank and additional pumps and vaporizers.

CMS Trunkline LNG said it intends to nearly double the sendout capacity of its Lake Charles, LA, facility to 1.2 Bcf/d from 630 MMcf/d to accommodate a substantial increase in LNG imports, particularly by BG LNG Services, which signed a 22-year contract in May for all of the existing capacity at the Lake Charles terminal. Under the $150-200 million expansion plan, CMS would add a second unloading dock, a fourth storage tank and additional pumps and vaporizers.

Despite the sharp downturn in natural gas prices, Mirant CFO Raymond D. Hill said his company is on a substantial gas expansion program. Mirant expects to double its participation in the gas market over the next four years.