9-18-13

Earlier, we commented on the unfortunate withdrawal of Anglo from the Pebble Partnership and provided the Partnership's response from John Shively. Today, we hear from

Northern Dynasty's CEO Ron Thiessen, that his company, "…will again own 100 percent of one of the world's most important copper & gold resources and will have the benefit of $541 million worth of expenditures, which opens the door to a number of exciting possibilities for Northern Dynasty and its shareholders and the Pebble Project and its stakeholders. Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership have both the expertise and resources necessary to advance the Pebble Project."

Today We Begin the Second Full Day of the Alaska Oil and Gas Congress–with American and Canadian content. Readers will find the two day agenda here, along with Monday's important Alaska in-state energy seminar pre-conference agenda.

Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo) started yesterday's program by welcoming all participants and revealing Anchorage's enviable rankings among other American cities. Along with being America’s 9^th best city to live in and the #1 best winter city to live in – Sullivan added that the 2010 census showed the population to be 290,000 remarking “we have most likely crossed the 300,000 population number now”. More to come on the significant, international energy content of this program affecting Alaska and Canada ….

Today's Energy Central Links:


	TVA forms advisory energy panels The Tennessee Valley Authority is forming two new advisory boards this fall to give advice and counsel about the changing power market ahead. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.
	Utility company settles suit over '07 forest fire Southern California Edison Co. has agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle the government's lawsuit over a 2007 fire that burned 1,320 acres in the Sequoia National Forest in Kern County. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Bob Egelko San Francisco Chronicle
	Power plant planned An Atlanta, Ga.-based wholesale energy provider has filed applications to begin the process of building a natural-gas-fired power plant in Trinidad. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Rich Flowers Athens Daily Review, Texas
	Senator demands that Edison fix blackout problems A state senator is demanding that Southern California Edison fix what he calls the "massive, recurring and unacceptable power outages" in the South Bay after a widespread weekend blackout left more than 100,000 residents without power. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Christine Mai-Duc Los Angeles Times
	Small business receives last contract for geothermal technology under MATOC The Army today awarded New Generation Power Inc. of Chicago, Ill., a geothermal technology, a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) for renewable and alternative energy production for Department of Defense (DOD) installations. HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
	First Wind Selected for Multiple Award Task Order Contract by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers First Wind, an independent U.S.-based renewable energy company, has been selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, to compete for opportunities to supply wind energy to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) from projects developed at or near DoD facilities. BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep 17, 2013
	Falmouth selectmen split on town's wind turbines The town's two wind turbines will run 16 hours a day startingunder a plan passed by a divided Board of Selectmen on Monday night. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Sean Driscoll Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
	Wind farm: Courtenay project still planned for fall Officials with Geronimo Energy are still planning starting preliminary construction on the Courtenay Wind Farm Project this fall, according to Betsy Engelking, vice president of the company. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Keith Norman The Jamestown Sun, N.D.
	FirstEnergy Corp. Declares Unchanged Common Stock Dividend The Board of Directors of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today declared an unchanged quarterly dividend of 55 cents per share of outstanding common stock. AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/
	NM man nominated for deputy Interior secretary sails through Senate hearing Michael Connor, a New Mexican nominated by President Barack Obama to be second-in-command at the U.S. Department of Interior, received glowing reviews and friendly questions at his Senate energy committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Michael Coleman Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
	No timeline set for ordinance revisions When asked when they will revise the Howard County wind energy ordinance, the county commissioners said no time frame has been set. Sep 17 – Kokomo Tribune (IN)
	Cheaper fuel keeps Chattanooga area energy rates down The Tennessee Valley Authority is raising its base electric rates next month for the first time in two years, but cheaper fuel and abundant rains will still keep the total fuel-adjusted price of electricity 4.5 percent cheaper than a year ago. Sep 17 – Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
	California new car dealers claim Tesla violates advertising laws The trade group for California's new car dealers wants the state Department of Motor Vehicles to investigate Tesla Motors' advertising practices, alleging that the upstart automaker is violating various state and federal laws in marketing its electric cars. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Jerry Hirsch Los Angeles Times
	Oakland solar company Mosaic crowdsources the sun Now you can invest in a solar project even if you don't own a roof. Oakland-based Mosaic has created a financing platform that allows individuals to put as little as $25 into solar projects on commercial buildings. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Dana Hull San Jose Mercury News
	Arista Power Receives $625,000 U.S. Army Contract To Continue Development Of Intelligent Micro-Grid System Arista Power, Inc. ("Arista Power" or the "Company") (OTCBB: ASPW) announced today that it has received a contract valued at $625,000 from the U.S. Army to further develop an Intelligent Micro-Grid System in support of the U.S. Army Communications Electronics Research and Development Center's (CERDEC's) Command Power and Integration Renewable Energy for Distributed Under-Supplied Command Environments (REDUCE) program. ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/
	Washington Gas Energy Systems Selected by U.S. Army as a Solar Technology Contractor on $7 Billion Renewable Energy Multiple Award Task Order Contracts Washington Gas Energy Systems (WGES), a subsidiary of WGL, has been awarded the opportunity to win a portion of $7 billion under the Renewable Alternative Energy Power Production for the Department of Defense (DOD) installations Multiple Award Task Order Contracts, or MATOC. MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep 17, 2013
	LP&L hires new general counsel, will play 'key role' in securing power supply Lubbock Power & Light on Tuesday, Sept. 17, announced its hiring of Todd Kimbrough as general counsel after the utility's former counsel retired in August. Sep 17 – Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX)
	Public weighs in on state Energy Independence Act at Richland hearing The Energy Independence Act creates a "green versus the poor" conflict, said one speaker at a state Senate committee hearing in Richland on Monday evening. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Annette Cary Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)
	Duke Energy to drop retirees from health care coverage Nonunion Duke Energy retirees will not receive health insurance coverage directly from the utility beginning, part of a growing trend by businesses to reduce costs. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Ivan Penn Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
	Fitch Rates PECO Energy's $350MM First Mortgage Bonds 'A' Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'A' rating to PECO Energy Co.'s (PECO) dual-tranche debt offering consisting of $300 million first and refunding mortgage bonds (FRMBs), 1.20% series due Oct. 15, 2016 and $250 million FRMBs 4.8% Series due Oct. 15, 2043. The Rating Outlook is Stable. NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep 17, 2013
	Japanese delegates visit UMaine, Eastport to learn about tidal energy in wake of Fukushima disaster The devastation of Japan and its energy infrastructure caused by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami has led Japanese officials, researchers and educators to Maine as they plan a future for their nation's energy supply. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Nick McCrea Bangor Daily News, Maine
	Pilgrim plant powers up to 70 percent Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station was back online and operating at 70 percent of its power capacity by midday Monday, after a weeklong shutdown caused by a steam leak in a heater line to the reactor. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Christine Legere Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
	Dennis-Yarmouth District challenges solar ruling A $3.8 million battle over solar energy that has pitted two municipal entities against each other is now heading to Superior Court. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Christine Legere Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
	Addressing error could mean higher tax payments for some Chelan PUD customers Some Chelan County PUD customers will pay 6 percent more in taxes for electricity and 16 percent more for water starting next month, after a mapping study revealed they should have been paying the taxes, but weren't, commissioners learned Monday. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Christine Pratt The Wenatchee World, Wash.
	PURA may reconsider United Illuminating rate case ruling Connecticut utility regulators have given tentative approval to reconsidering certain aspects of a ruling in a rate case involving The United Illuminating Co. in which the utility got a rate increase that was just half of what it had initially sought. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – Luther Turmelle New Haven Register, Conn.
	Lakeland commission votes to cut Lakeland Electric fuel rate Running the air conditioning will cost a little less for Lakeland Electric customers. But customers will pay more to curb pollution. Sep 17 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – John Chambliss The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla.