[BETA] Fortnightly

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas Inc. (ERCOT) has named Maxine Buckles as its first CFO. Buckles comes to ERCOT from Plantation Pipe Line Co., where she was CFO and treasurer for five years.

Avista Labs announced two new board members: Tucker Hart Adams , president and CEO of the Adams Group as well as president of American Russian Collaborative Enterprises LLC; and Robert F. Goff , president of R4 Energy Inc., a fuel cell industry consulting and management services company. Avista Energy, another Avista Corp. affiliate, has appointed Dennis Vermillion as president and COO. Vermillion has been with Avista Energy since its creation in 1997.

R. Foster Duncan has been named executive vice president and CFO of Cinergy Corp. Duncan most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of LG&E Corp.

CMS Viron Energy Services announced that its president, John W. Mahoney , was awarded the Energy Executive of the Year award from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Mahoney received the award due to CMS Viron's significant growth in the industry under his leadership, which began in 1996.

Tara Neider has been named to the new position of vice president-spent fuel for Constellation Nuclear Services. Neider came from Transnuclear Inc., and is a mechanical engineer with 18 years of spent fuel experience.

Duke Engineering & Services named Donald B. Blackmon as vice president of its power delivery business line. Prior to this position, Blackmon was director of business development for Duke Engineering's federal government business group.

Nathan Good , director of Portland General Electric's Green Building Services, has received the 2000 Energy Manager of the Year Award from the National Association of Professional Energy Managers, for his efforts in managing PGE's Earth Smart program.

International Fuel Cells has named Jim Bolch as vice president, PEM manufacturing and supplier development. Bolch joins IFC from United Technology Corp.'s Otis Elevator Co., where he was vice president for service.

Roger W. Hale , chairman and CEO of LG&E Energy Corp., announced his retirement. He also will step down from the board of Powergen plc at the same time. Hale joined LG&E in 1989. During his tenure, LG&E Energy Corp. attained the ranks of a Fortune 500 company and received the coveted JD Power award for the best in customer service three times in the last two years.

Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) announced the association's committee chairs for 2001. Frank Ferraro , vice president of environmental health and safety for Wheelabrator Technologies, will chair the Environmental Issues Committee once again. Ron Lowman , president, Constellation Power Source Generation of Baltimore, will chair the Industry Operations Committee. Yamin Afshar , senior vice president of international affairs for Cogentric Energy Inc., again will chair the International Issues Committee. Scott Weiner , senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for the Sithe Energies Inc. of New York City, will chair the Legislative Affairs Committee. Jana Martin , vice president public and government affairs for Tenaska Inc., will head the Public Affairs Committee. Joe Hartsoe , vice president of federal regulatory affairs for