Natural gas

Chesapeake Utilities Acquires Gatherco – A Midstream Service Provider

Chesapeake Utilities and Gatherco, a natural gas infrastructure company providing natural gas midstream services, entered into a merger agreement, dated as of January 30, 2015 under which Chesapeake Utilities will acquire Gatherco. Upon consummation of the transaction, Gatherco will merge into Aspire Energy of Ohio (Aspire Energy), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities. The transaction was approved by the Gatherco board of directors and by Chesapeake Utilities' merger and acquisition committee.

Early Clean Power Planning

A hedging strategy for sec. 111(d).

While the public comment period on EPA’s Clean Power Plan proposed rule has closed, there are still opportunities to engage in the federal policymaking process before the summer 2015 release of the final rule.

PJM's Three-Way Proposal

A re-defined capacity product, revised parameters for generator performance, and a new role for demand response.

The proposal creates a new capacity product called the “Capacity Performance Resource.”

Playing Safe with Capacity Markets

PJM would minimize risk, but so did regulation.

Changes envisioned by PJM call for ever more structured markets, further reducing the scope of the competitive landscape from which RTOs arose. They may produce a system that is actually more costly and less innovative than regulation.

Microgrids: Friend or Foe for Utilities?

For many, it’s the next logical step for smart grid technology.

A small, but growing, number of utilities are embracing these technologies. Microgrids offer a networking platform that the utility can both aggregate and optimize.

New York's Natural Gas Path

The state is diverging from the national trend.

New York is taking its own path and outlawing the use of high-volume natural gas fracking. Yet, the state will remain a voracious consumer of natural gas that is fracked elsewhere. What gives?

Gas to the Rescue

Shale revolution catches fire, surpassing coal – in America, and soon around the world.

The shale revolution now fueling the American economy appears poised for expansion overseas.

Starwood Energy Group to Acquire Lakeside Generation

Starwood Energy Group Global, a private investment firm focused on energy infrastructure, announced that an affiliate has entered into an agreement with Lakeside Energy to acquire Lakeside Generation, a 369-MW portfolio of three natural gas facilities, one located in Pennsylvania and two in New York. The portfolio consists of Hazleton, a 158-MW peaking facility in Pennsylvania; Syracuse, a 103-MW combined cycle facility in New York; and Beaver Falls, a 108-MW cogeneration combined cycle facility in New York.

Entergy to Acquire Union Power Station in Arkansas

Entergy subsidiaries, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Texas have signed an agreement to acquire the Union Power Station, a highly efficient, natural gas-fired 1,980-MW generating facility. The station is owned by Union Power Partners, an independent power producer, and wholly owned by Entegra TC. The Union Power Station, which entered commercial service in 2003, consists of four combined-cycle gas-fired generating units, or CCGTs, each rated at 495 MW.

Energy Politics are Combustible

Many in business back EPA, but the new Congress has yet to weigh in.

The comment period closes on EPA’s Clean Power Plan, but Congress is holding its cards close to the vest.