Electical Contractor

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has signed a long-term agreement to purchase wind energy from the Arlington Wind Power Project, a subsidiary of Horizon Wind Energy.

PPL Renewable Energy announced plans in May 2008 to design, construct and operate a 1.7-megawatt solar-power system for Schering-Plough Corp. in Summit, N.J. When completed, the green energy project will be the largest rooftop solar installation in the United States.

The Maryland Public Commission (PSC), along with utility regulators from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and a coalition of electricity buyers and consumer advocates, filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), challenging the imposition of capacity payments for the pe

Progress Energy Carolinas filed two programs with the North Carolina Utilities Commission: one for residential load control and another to allow the electric distribution grid in the Carolinas to be used to reduce peak demand.

FPL Group's utility Florida Power & Light Company said preliminary results of the investigation into the four-hour blackout on February 26, 2008, indicated human error was the primary cause.

The case for wind power growth in the northern plains states just got stronger. In February 2008, a partnership of two utility companies announced plans for a large-scale transmission line, which will accommodate several new wind farm developments in North Dakota.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and BioEnergy Solutions announced that their biogas-to-pipeline injection project in Fresno County, Calif. has begun production of renewable natural gas derived from animal waste.

In late January, 2008, Energy -Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced that the federal government would restructure a $1.8 billion power plant in Mattoon, Ill., because of cost concerns and questions about the project’s relevance.

It's not difficult to find examples of transmission-planning projects gone awry. From Southern California to Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, electric utilities face heavy opposition to their plans to boost transmission capacity.