Pepco’s Midtown Thermal Control Center, which provides heating, cooling and electricity to some of Atlantic City’s biggest casino-hotels, was awarded the International District Energy Association’s Annual Innovation Award. The 16,200-ton multiple-chiller district cooling plant cuts energy consumption while providing essential climate control services to casino-hotels such as the Trump Plaza, Caesar’s Palace and the Atlantic City Convention Hall.
The $106 million facility produces 54,000 tons of cooling, 700,000 pounds per hour of heating and 5.7 MW of generation. It has a central generating station and several satellite generators; five miles of steam, chilled water and condensate piping; and a fiber-optic control system. The center has shown energy savings of 30% for its clients since going into operation in October.
More: Fierce Energy
Exelon, Pepco Continue Regulatory Approval Process
Exelon and Pepco Holdings Inc. filed applications with regulatory agencies in Delaware, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, continuing the approval process for Exelon’s purchase of the D.C.-based utility. “The filings we are making today describe in detail how our proposed merger will serve the public interest,” Chris Crane, Exelon president and CEO, said last week.
Crane said Exelon’s emergency-response experience will improve service for Pepco customers, who have long complained about their utility company’s long restoration times and regular rate hikes. Crane promised Exelon will set, and meet, tougher reliability targets by 2020 if the deal is approved. Exelon announced its proposed purchase of Pepco for $6.8 billion in May. The company has already filed an application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and plans to file with the Maryland Public Service Commission in August.
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Huntoon Hangs Shingle as Regulatory Law Specialist
Steve Huntoon, who spent the past three decades practicing energy regulatory law with companies such as PECO, Florida Power & Light Co., Dynegy and Conectiv, has opened his own law firm in the District of Columbia. Energy Counsel LLP will specialize in energy regulatory issues, especially those before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Huntoon is the former president of the Energy Bar Association. Most recently he was senior attorney at Florida Power & Light Co.
More: Energy Counsel, LLP
N.C. Duke Ash Pond Bill Could See Vote This Week
A bill mandating the closure of all 33 of Duke Energy’s ash ponds cleared three North Carolina committees last week and could come to a vote on the Senate floor this week. The bill calls for full coal ash removal at four power plants near waterways: Riverbend, near Charlotte; Dan River, scene of the massive coal ash spill in February; Asheville; and Sutton in Wilmington.The remainder of Duke’s coal ash ponds would be closed after a prioritization review by a new, nine-member Coal Ash Management Commission. The bill requires Duke to pay all cleanup costs and levies a new regulatory fee that would go toward hiring 25 more employees for the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources.North Carolina officials also warned Duke Energy last week to fix what it said were “numerous gushers, drips and stains” at a coal ash dam at its Weatherspoon plant in Lumberton. State Attorney General Roy Cooper said last week that lawmakers should ensure that the costs for cleaning up coal ash ponds are borne by Duke, not the public.
More: Charlotte Observer; NewsObserver.com
NextEra Sets IPO for Renewables Company
NextEra Energy Inc.’s wholly owned subsidiary, NextEra Energy Partners LP, announced terms of its initial public offering. The company, which will operate 10 wind and solar energy projects, wants to raise $325 million by offering 16.3 million shares of stock at a price of $19 to $21.
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