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After nearly three years and some substantial changes in itsnatural gas supply flexibility, the backers of the proposed HighDesert Power Plant about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles pulledtogether final air emission mitigation and water deals last weekthat they think will get them final state approval for their plantby spring. The final steps were taken as the project won alast-minute reprieve from a preliminary recommendation that theCalifornia Energy Commission (CEC) reject the proposal, which wasthe first of what are now more than two dozen merchant power plantproposals pending.

After nearly three years and some substantial changes in itsnatural gas supply flexibility, the backers of the proposed HighDesert Power Plant about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles pulledtogether final air emission mitigation and water deals this week(Feb. 7-11) they think will get them final state approval for theirplant by spring. The final steps were taken as the project won alast-minute reprieve from a preliminary recommendation that theCalifornia Energy Commission (CEC) reject the proposal, which wasthe first of what are now more than two dozen merchant power plantproposals pending.

The assets serve all major metropolitan areas, the largest industrialload centers, and numerous natural gas trading hubs, El Paso said. Theyare also well positioned to serve many of the state’s existing and plannedgas-fired electric generation facilities. Included in the transaction are8,500 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines that transport approximately2.8 Bcf/d, nine processing plants that currently process 1.5 Bcf/d, anda 7.2 Bcf natural gas storage field. The transaction also includes significantnatural gas liquids pipelines and fractionation facilities.

Following a three-day, 25-cent price spike, the natural gasmarket cooled its heels Thursday as traders took profits amidtechnically overbought conditions and ahead of the weekend. After alate morning push failed to surpass Wednesday’s $2.78 high, sellerscame out of the woodwork to deliver the March contract a dime lowerto $2.659.

After three years of attempts to generate profitability from itsTexas gathering and liquids businesses, PG&E National EnergyGroup finally threw in the towel yesterday and announced the saleof these assets to El Paso Energy Field Services for $840 millionin stock and debt.

El Paso Merchant Energy Co. made a three-year asset managementagreement with Boston Gas Co., a subsidiary of Eastern Enterpriseseffective Nov. 1, 1999. El Paso will provide gas supply managementto Boston Gas and affiliated LDCs Colonial Gas Co. and Essex GasCo. Service includes arranging gas supply, managing interstatetransportation, and optimizing underground storage. Massachusetts’Department of Telecommunications and Energy approved the deal Oct.18.

The new millenium saw the loss of two major energy companies bythree national energy trade associations, the Interstate NaturalGas Association of America (INGAA), the American Gas Association(AGA), the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), while a fourth, theNatural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), says it is poised for acomeback.

A three-member arbitration panel ruled that Oglethorpe PowerCorp.’s power marketing contract with LG&E Energy Corp. andLG&E Energy Marketing Inc. is valid and must be honored.LG&E began its challenge to the contract in 1998. The companysaid the decision will cause it to increase its fourth quarterafter-tax accrued loss on disposal of discontinued operations by$175 million. The loss stems from increased load demands, higherthan anticipated future commodity prices and other factors. Theincrease in the loss reserve will be recorded in discontinuedoperations.

Three independent system operators — ISO New England, The NewYork ISO, and PJM Interconnection — which have been workingtogether to improve power supply reliability, recently addedanother ISO to their cooperation pact.