Support

FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCE) was selected by the U.S. Departmentof Energy for a $3.125 million program to support the design of anultra-high efficiency, fuel cell/turbine hybrid power plant basedon the company’s Direct FuelCell (DFC). The system would combinethe FCE’s non-pressurized Direct FuelCell with a non-combustionturbine. The program includes development of a high-utilizationfuel cell and key system components, a sub-scale test of aDFC/turbine hybrid system and the conceptual design of a 40 MWpower plant.

After several successive days of stagnation, the cash marketfinally was able to use a little bit of screen support andexpectations of colder weather moving into major market areas toget out of its rut Tuesday. Prices ranged from flat in theSouthwest basins to more than a nickel higher at New Englandcitygates and for intra-Alberta and several related western points.Most quotes rose between 3 and 5 cents.

The 2000 cash market was sluggish and weak Tuesday as a fullcomplement of traders finally returned to their offices followingthe New Year’s holiday break. A sharp futures decline coupled withonly moderately cold weather in most regions depressed most pointsby about a dime or more below the levels at which they rang out theold year Thursday.

Despite continuing setbacks with Texas properties, PG&ECorp. officials last week expressed continued support for theirnational energy strategy, which when broken down is a largelyelectricity-based with key gas assets to enhance power assetvalues.

Despite continuing setbacks with Texas properties, PG&ECorp. officials this week expressed continued support for theirnational energy strategy, which when broken down is a largelyelectricity-based with key gas assets to enhance power assetvalues.

The revival of interest in Canadian Arctic gas has spawned aproject looking for sponsors and support in the NorthwestTerritories. Harvie Andre, a prominent Calgary engineer-businessmanand former Conservative member of parliament, trekked north tosound out the possibilities at the end of October. It was disclosedin northern communities that Andre was dispatched by aninternational group called Alaska Resources Co., with backers suchas Municipal Energy Resources Corp. of Houston.

The revival of interest in Canadian Arctic gas has spawned aproject looking for sponsors and support in the NorthwestTerritories. Harvie Andre, a prominent Calgary engineer-businessmanand former conservative member of Parliament, trekked north tosound out the possibilities at the end of October. It was disclosedin northern communities that Andre was dispatched by aninternational group called Alaska Resources Co., with backers suchas Municipal Energy Resources Corp. of Houston.

Blocked in its bid for neighboring Southwest Gas, Austin,TX-based Southern Union Co. focused on the East, picking upapproval from its board of directors and that of the Fall River GasCo., on a merger agreement.

A Williams Gas Pipeline executive last week departed from theinterstate pipeline industry’s general support for straight-fixedvariable (SFV) rate design, suggesting instead a move to avolumetric design. He believes such a rate design will be essentialfor gas pipelines to meet the needs of power generators, and forthe industry as a whole to reach its goal of a 30 Tcf market