TRC Companies acquired Georgia-based Utility Support Systems (USS), a professional engineering company primarily supporting the power/utility market. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. USS reported net revenues of $11.5 million in 2012. TRC expects the transaction to be earnings accretive in fiscal 2014.
Southern California Edison (SCE) served a formal notice of dispute on Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems (together, Mitsubishi) which seeks to hold Mitsubishi accountable for designing and manufacturing defective replacement steam generators (RSGs) at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Although Mitsubishi warranted the generators would operate reliably for 20 years, SCE was required to take SONGS offline in January 2012 when one of the Mitsubishi RSGs experienced a radioactive coolant leak after less than a year of operation.
Alstom won a long-term service contract to update GDF SUEZ Energy North America’s power plant fleet.
Renewable Energy Developers (RED), a developer, owner and operator of renewable energy projects, entered into a binding agreement with Natenco to acquire the Ontario wind project known as Grey Highlands Clean Energy.
Midwest Energy Emissions signed agreements with two U.S. electric utility companies to perform demonstrations of Midwest Energy Emissions' technology that removes mercury from coal-power plant emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule requires that all coal- and oil-fired power plants in the U.S., larger than 25 MW, must remove roughly 90% of mercury from their emissions by April 16, 2015.
Geronimo Energy signed two long-term wind energy purchase agreements with Xcel Energy for a total of 400 MW of wind energy to be generated at the Courtenay Wind Farm and Odell Wind Farm. The Courtenay Wind Farm is a 200-MW wind energy facility in Stutsman County, North Dakota. The project will consist of up to 125 wind turbines to be constructed across 25,000 acres of leased land from over 60 landowners. The Odell Wind Farm is a 200-MW wind energy facility in Jackson, Watonwan and Cottonwood counties, Minnesota.
RES America Developments, a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES Americas), is working with Xcel Energy to construct the 200-MW Pleasant Valley Wind Farm. The project is near Austin, Minnesota, adjacent to the Grand Meadow wind project owned by Xcel Energy. Once the project is complete, RES Americas will transfer ownership of Pleasant Valley to Xcel Energy, who will own and operate the project.
TECO Energy filed its application with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) for approval of its acquisition of New Mexico Gas. The application was filed jointly with New Mexico Gas Co. and its parent company, Continental Energy Systems. A decision by the PRC is expected by early 2014. In May, TECO Energy entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with Continental Energy Systems to acquire New Mexico Gas Co. for a purchase price of $950 million, subject to customary closing adjustments.
NRG Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary NRG Solar, announced that two of the solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities the company acquired from Recurrent Energy earlier this year have reached commercial operation.
FirstEnergy announced it expects to deactivate two coal-fired power plants located in Pennsylvania by October 9, 2013. The decision is based on the cost of compliance with current and future environmental regulations in conjunction with the continued low market price for electricity. The plants scheduled to be deactivated are Hatfield's Ferry Power Station in Masontown, Pa., and Mitchell Power Station in Courtney, Pa.