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Matrix Renewables Announces the Commissioning of Pleasant Valley Solar 1

LCG, April 15, 2025--Matrix Renewables announced today the successful commissioning of the Pleasant Valley Solar 1 power generation facility in Ada County, Idaho. The 200-MWac solar facility includes a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that was secured through negotiation with Meta and Idaho Power. Matrix Renewables states the facility is the largest operational solar facility in Idaho Power's system. Sundt Renewables, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services provider, completed construction of the project on March 2nd.

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Duke Energy Seeks to Extend Operating License for Robinson Nuclear Plant

LCG, April 9, 2025--Duke Energy announced yesterday its submission of a subsequent license renewal (SLR) application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the Robinson Nuclear Plant, a 759-MW nuclear unit located near Hartsville, South Carolina. The application requests extending the plant's operations for an additional 20 years.

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Industry News

El Paso Electric Agrees to Refunds Related to Manipulation

LCG, Dec. 6, 2002--An investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission into transactions involving utility El Paso Electric's generation portfolio has resulted in the company stating that it was connected with Enron Corp.'s efforts to distort the California electricity market.

According to a document exchanged between company attorneys and FERC trial lawyers, El Paso Electric stated that Enron used the utility's assets to carry out manipulation schemes, such as "Fat Boy", and possibly "Ricochet." As part of a proposed settlement, El Paso Electric would pay $14 million in refunds and discontinue trading of wholesale power at market rates for two years. The company, which owns generating plants in west Texas and southern New Mexico, is not connected with El Paso Corp., a larger, natural gas firm.

The settlement may be rejected or modified, subject to the response of an administrative law judge and FERC representatives. The case has implications for ongoing investigations by California. Gov. Gray Davis' deputy legal affairs secretary, William Kissinger, said "We can't judge whether this is a slap on the wrist or a pinch or something more than that. It's a black box."

Enron and El Paso's business dealings gained in significance in 1997, when Enron essentially took control of the utility's trading arm. While the utility provided only 0.3 percent of needed wholesale power to the California Independent System Operator, Enron may have exacerbated the energy crisis of 2000 and 2001 by having power available, although unsold or "parked", until it decided to offer power to the desperate ISO at much higher rates. Other companies with previous ties to Enron are being investigated for what may be similar dealings.
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