Appalachian Power has issued pre-qualification documents for parties interested in bidding on an up-coming Request for Proposal (RFP) for up to 150 MW of wind power. The utility provider currently has one million customers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest…
Westar Energy to lower customer costs by adding more Kansas wind energy
More Kansas wind will help power the homes and businesses of Westar Energy’s customers by early 2017. Westar Energy, Kansas’ largest electric utility, recently announced an agreement that will add nearly 300 MWs to its growing wind energy portfolio. In collaboration with Infinity Wind Power, the utility will construct the Western Plains Wind Farm, a 280-MW…
Hi-Line offers new LED-lighted tool bag
Hi-Line Utility Supply, a tools and equipment provider for utility construction and maintenance, now offers the Tradesman Pro Lighted Tool Bag. The new tool bag comes with a removable, twist-on and off LED light that easily positions in the best spot to illuminate the inside of the bag or a work space. The light features…
EDF Renewable Energy closes 50% interest sale of Texas wind project
EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE) has closed on the transaction to sell 50% interest of the 194-MW Spinning Spur 3 Wind Project in Texas to a fund managed by BlackRock’s Infrastructure Investment Group. This transaction is the third of five signed agreements between BlackRock and EDF Renewable Energy to close. The remaining projects, Roosevelt (250 MW)…
The Switch launches a new utility-grade power converter
The Switch, a supplier of megawatt-class electrical drives for wind energy and industrial applications, has launched a new full-power converter (FPC) for utility-grade electricity production. The FPC+ concept builds on the company’s experience and an installed base of over 11 GW of power throughout the world. Designed for the highest level performance in electricity production,…
ABB Power Consulting Group announces HVDC Seminar for utility planners and developers
Power and automation technology group, ABB, announced that its independent Power Consulting business will host a two-day, intensive training seminar entitled, “HVDC: Planning, Modeling, and Economic Justification.” The seminar, which will take place November 17-19 at ABB’s Power Systems North America headquarters in Raleigh, includes a two-day training session on High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)…
North Dakota grid expansion provides reliable, affordable outlets for renewable energy
Electric utility executives, renewable energy supporters, state officials, and legislators gathered in North Dakota near St. Cloud and Fargo earlier this week to celebrate generation of two high-voltage transmission lines. These projects, which span nearly 500 miles, are part of CapX2020, the largest electric transmission expansion in the Upper Midwest in decades. North Dakota Congressman…
Xcel Energy named No. 1 utility wind provider for 11th consecutive year
For the 11th consecutive year, Xcel Energy has been named the country’s top utility wind energy provider by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the national trade association. For more than a decade, Xcel Energy has led the nation in providing wind energy to its customers “Xcel Energy is proud to have grown the use…
NREL ranks utility power programs
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released its annual assessment of leading utility green-power programs. Under these voluntary programs, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as wind and solar.