Renewable energy

The rig tapped to embark on Shell's Arctic drilling programme set sail for the Beaufort Sea this week, as the Anglo-Dutch supermajor moved a step closer to launching its exploration plan off Alaska. The Conical Drilling Unit Kulluk departed on its two-week journey from Dutch Harbour on Monday, but delays related to lingering sea ice and permitting issues have already forced Shell to scale back its plans for the year in the Arctic. Shell is now reportedly planning to drill just two wells this summer. At the forefront of the delays is the completion of a containment system in the case of Shell losing control of one of its wells.

Standard Exploration Ltd. and Canadian Energy Exploration Inc. announced they have entered into an arrangement agreement with respect to a combination of both companies.

Black Hills Corp. said that its subsidiaries Black Hills Power and Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power received approval from the Wyoming Public Service Commission to construct and operate a USD 237M, 132MW natural gas-fired power plant in Wyoming. The Cheyenne Prairie Generating Station will use a 37MW simple-cycle combustion turbine owned by Cheyenne Light and a 95MW combined-cycle combustion turbine to be jointly owned by Black Hills Power and Cheyenne Light.

Responding to concerns of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and environmental groups, the Illinois EPA will reconsider an air pollution permit it granted to Tenaska Inc. in April for a coal-to-gas plant proposed for Taylorville, located near Springfield.

Though Canada has made progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a new report conducted by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRT) has concluded that the country will not achieve the federal government's reduction target of 17% below 2005 levels by the year 2020.    The report states, “Canada will not achieve its 2020 GHG emission reductions target unless significant new, additional measures are taken.

   Cashco Inc. has taken another step in the expansion of its Ellsworth, Kansas headquarters.

Copano Energy LLC will add 400,000Mcf per day of cryogenic processing capacity at its Houston Central complex in Colorado County, Texas, to meet producer demand in the Eagle Ford shale play.

   Alliant Energy Corporation subsidiary, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) has purchased Riverside Energy Center, LLC which owns Beloit, Wisconsin 600MW combined cycle natural gas-fired electric generating facility Riverside Energy Center, from Calpine Corporation.

   Indiana Gasification's emissions permit to develop a USD$2.

The Shaw Group Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its Energy & Chemicals business to Technip. Under the terms of the agreement, Technip will acquire substantially all of the business of the Energy & Chemicals Group for approximately USD 300 million in cash consideration, subject to adjustment based on the Energy & Chemicals Group’s debt and working capital levels at closing. Shaw will retain Energy & Chemicals Group personnel in its Baton Rouge office, which will be integrated into the company’s Plant Services Division, as well as Shaw Consulting International Inc., which will be incorporated into Shaw’s Environmental & Infrastructure Group.