Power Engineering E-Newsletter 8/28

Welcome! Power Points: Black & Veatch discusses transition to natural gas generation Chief Editor Russell Ray talks with Black & Veatch about how U.S. power producers are using more natural gas-fired generation. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/video-gallery/featured-videos.html?bcpid=1525031358001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAEheacc~,POub7blnBC_T7nKGnYts8AuVedJt4mSv&bclid=1538833180001&bctid=4434873758001 Share: Video Highlights Exelon-Pepco Holdings merger on hold after DC regulators deny proposal Xcel Energy lowers GHG emissions 20% in 10 years PJM will pay 37% more for power supplies in 2018 Southern to buy AGL Resources for nearly $8 billion View Now Share:   Top Stories Exelon-Pepco merger in doubt after D.C. regulators reject $6 billion proposal The D.C. Public Service Commission on Tuesday rebuffed a multi-billion dollar proposed merger between power companies Exelon and Pepco. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/exelon-pepco-merger-in-doubt-as-d-c-regulators-reject-6-billion-dollar-proposal.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share: Xcel Energy reduces GHG emissions by 20% in past decade Xcel Energy has become the first utility in the country to register nearly a decade’s worth of greenhouse gas emissions data with The Climate Registry.http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/xcel-energy-reduces-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-more-than-20-percent-in-past-decade.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Read More Share: PJM increases payments to power plants, seeks to avoid grid blackouts In an effort to avoid blackouts, PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid, will increase payments to power generators by 37 percent. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/pjm-increases-payments-to-power-plants-seeks-to-avoid-grid-blackouts.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share: Deal for AGL comes at time of increasing "risk profile" for Southern, Moody finds Now that Southern (NYSE:SO) has announced plans to buy AGL Resources (NYSE:GAS), Moody’s Investors Service has affirmed the Southern rating for commercial paper, but changed its outlook to “negative” on the utility holding company. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/deal-for-agl-comes-at-time-of-increasing-risk-profile-for-southern-moody-finds.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share:   From our Sponsor Protect your Plant with Echotel® Ultrasonic Switches ECHOTEL level switches ensure outstanding quality, reliability and overfill prevention: Remote mount capability keeps workers off tank Advanced self diagnostics assure reliable performance Best-in-class Safe Failure Fraction > 91% Dual-option for two-alarm safety protocol Industry News Louisiana regulators approve merger of Entergy utilities The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved the merger of Entergy Louisiana LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana LLC into a single utility. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/louisiana-regulators-approve-merger-of-entergy-utilities.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share: California utility reports record production of green energy San Diego Gas & Electric broke its own record last week for production of renewable electricity. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/california-utility-reports-record-production-of-green-energy.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share: IAEA says it needs money to continue Iran nuclear oversight The International Atomic Energy Agency said it is running out of money to help Iran implement its international nuclear deal and is asking member countries to increase funding. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/iaea-says-it-needs-money-to-continue-iran-nuclear-oversight.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share: EDF Renewable Energy owns wind energy developer EDF Renewable Energy closed the acquisition of OwnEnergy Inc., a developer of mid-sized wind power projects. Read Morehttp://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/08/edf-renewable-energy-owns-wind-energy-developer.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-august-28-2015&eid=288118515&bid=1163481 Share: More Headlines • Kazakhstan to host international uranium bank • Principal Solar teams with Entropy to build 100-MW generating facility • PSEG Solar Source acquires California solar power project • POTUS announces $1 billion in DOE initiatives aimed at innovative technologies • DTE Energy to build solar array in Ypsilanti • Duke Energy to begin purchasing solar power for Indiana customers • Doosan Babcock consortium to help build Hinkley Point C nuclear plant • Russia helping to refuel Iran nuclear power plant • GEH shipping nuclear reactor pumps to Japan • China, US to talk "clean coal" as industry struggles • Encana selling Louisiana assets for $850 million   Industry Trends Henry Hub Average Natural Gas Spot Prices The Henry Hub is the pricing point for natural gas futures contracts. Here's a look at how prices have changed up to August 19, 2015. Read More Share: