The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the acquisition of UNS Energy by Fortis, finding the transaction is consistent with the public interest. The ruling is the next step toward finalizing the transaction. UNS Energy shareholders approved the acquisition on March 26, 2014.
Canadian Solar Solutions completed the sale of Little Creek, an 8.5-MW solar power plant valued at over C$53.0 million ($47.95 USD), to a BluEarth Renewables subsidiary (BluEarth). This is the first of four planned solar projects being acquired by BluEarth from Canadian Solar, totaling 38.5 MW. The additional three utility-scale solar power plants being purchased by BluEarth, which are planned to reach commercial operation through Q2 2015, are located in Kawartha Lakes, Belleville and Beaverton, Ontario, Canada.
NRG Energy acquired Roof Diagnostics Solar (RDS), a residential solar company. Over the next month, the company will begin operating under the brand NRG Residential Solar Solutions. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
A123 Systems signed an agreement with NEC Corporation (NEC) of Japan to divest of its grid storage business and other assets related to energy storage for telecom and IT data storage applications. NEC acquired the A123 Energy Solutions for approximately $100 million. An agreement on the terms of the deal has been finalized and a new company, NEC Energy Solutions, is slated to begin operation in June 2014 under the direction of NEC.
NRG Energy and Edison Mission Energy (EME) jointly announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the sale of substantially all of EME's assets to NRG. The acquisition of EME's portfolio of renewable and conventional generation assets will create the second-largest US power company. EME will add nearly 8,000 MW of generating capacity to the combined company's diverse portfolio of both conventional and wind generation facilities. The transaction closed on April 1, 2014.
NRG Energy entered into agreements with Dominion Resources to acquire its retail electric business. Once completed, the acquisition will support NRG's ongoing efforts to expand the company's retail footprint in the Northeast and to grow its retail position in Texas.The transaction closed at the end of March.
Manitoba Hydro signed two major power sales with Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group. The first sale, running from 2016-2021, is for 108 MW of firm power. The second sale - which will use electricity produced by the proposed new Conawapa Generating Station on the Nelson River - is for 308 MW of firm power for up to 10-years. The 308-MW sale is scheduled to start in 2027. A previously announced 100-MW sale to WPS is scheduled to run from 2021 to 2026, bridging the gap between these two new deals.
Calpine completed the acquisition of a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant located in Guadalupe County, 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, Texas, in ERCOT's south zone. Calpine purchased the plant, which has a generating capacity of 1,050 MW, from MinnTex Power Holdings (a portfolio company owned by a private investment fund managed by Wayzata Investment Partners) for $625 million plus adjustments.
Manitoba Hydro and Great River Energy signed a MOU to jointly investigate the sale of up to 600 MW of electricity from Manitoba Hydro to Great River Energy, commencing in approximately 2020. Under the MOU, the utilities have agreed to discuss supplying some of Great River Energy's long-term electricity needs from Manitoba Hydro's proposed new hydroelectric stations.
FirstEnergy completed the sale of 11 hydroelectric power stations to Harbor Hydro Holdings, a subsidiary of LS Power Equity Partners, for approximately $395 million. The two companies originally announced the sales agreement in September 2013. The hydroelectric power stations included in this sale are owned by FirstEnergy Generation, Allegheny Energy Supply and Green Valley Hydro and have a total capacity of 527 MW.