Time

Developers of what at one time was California’s first merchantpower plant proposal are gearing up for more concentrated effortsto develop natural gas deals and power marketing efforts, assumingthey get final federal government environmental okays for their$350 million, 700 MW High Desert generation plant by mid-summer.Although delayed more than two years, the plant last week gainedits long-sought state approval from the California EnergyCommission (CEC).

Developers of what at one time was California’s first merchantpower plant proposal are gearing up for more concentrated effortsto develop natural gas deals and power marketing efforts, assumingthey get final federal government environmental okays for their$350 million, 700 MW High Desert generation plant by mid-summer.Although delayed more than two years, the project last week (May 3)gained its long-sought state approval for the plant from theCalifornia Energy Commission (CEC).

The Italians seem to be rediscovering the New World — and it’sin the Gulf of Mexico this time. In the largest venture of its kindin the Gulf of Mexico’s deep offshore, Exxon Mobil Corp. has givenAgip Petroleum Exploration Co. the opportunity to earn 25% of theU.S. company’s interest in up to 259 deepwater blocks. To earn theinterest, Agip, a subsidiary of Eni, the Italian oil and naturalgas company, has to participate in the drilling of at least 12exploration wells over the next five years.

The Italians seem to be rediscovering the New World — and it’sin the Gulf of Mexico this time. In the largest venture of its kindin the Gulf of Mexico’s deep offshore, ExxonMobil Corp. has givenAgip Petroleum Exploration Co. the opportunity to earn 25% of theU.S. company’s interest in up to 259 deep-water blocks. To earnthe interest, Agip, a subsidiary of Eni, the Italian oil andnatural gas company, has to participate in the drilling of at least12 exploration wells over the next five years.

It’s about time everyone realized Coral Energy is a Shellaffiliate. The company initiated a corporate identity and brandingprogram yesterday supported by direct mail, Web-basedcommunications and advertisements in the Wall Street Journal, theHouston Chronicle and some trade magazines. It also has adopted anew logo design to signify its expanded commercial business andtransition from a joint venture company to a 100% affiliate ofShell’s global natural gas and power business. The logo nowincludes the Shell logo and says Coral is an affiliate of Shell.

California-based Automated Power Exchange (APX) announced lastweek that it has developed new Internet-based, real-timeelectricity market products that will allow it to provide combinedpower exchange and regional transmission operator (RTO) services inother states, regions and countries that open their electricitymarkets to competition. One feature of what APX is calling “Market2000” will allow end-users to trade power to buffer the negativeimpact of summer price spikes.

“Our charge was to go out on the attack and learn about operations ina deregulated setting. We were funded as a pilot and we operated that way.We did very little advertising. Our goal was not to become a rapid expansion-typecompany,” said Jean Redfield, president of DTE Edison America.

Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-ID) said last week he plans to supporthis long-time energy aide, Nils Johnson, to succeed formerCommissioner Vicky Bailey at the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission.

It was time to get out the smelling salts again Tuesday torevive traders swooning from the altitude of Northeast citygates.Quote averages zoomed higher by more than $2 at a few points, andone source reported hearing that intra-day numbers for deliveriesinto the Boston area via Tennessee and Algonquin peaked at $10.