Council committee will probe JEA sale in push for accountability
Looking to “restore citizen belief in the integrity of government” following the effort to sell JEA, City Council President Scott Wilson appointed a council committee to investigate the process, he said Monday.
“Anyone who was involved and maliciously tried to sell our utility or committed any criminal acts should be held accountable, no matter who they are,” Wilson said during a press conference held on the steps of City Hall this afternoon.
The committee will be comprised of council members Rory…
O’Brien to leave Peoples Natural Gas
Morgan O’Brien, the head of Peoples Natural Gas Co., said that he would be leaving the company when Aqua America Inc. finalizes the deal to acquire it.
When Aqua America first announced its deal to acquire North Shore-based gas utility Peoples, the company and O’Brien said that things would remain the same in Pittsburgh, with O’Brien leading the gas division. But in an interview last week with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, O’Brien said that it would be difficult for him to remain with the company…
For veteran gas exec, driller’s growth plans suit him to a T
Tim Dugan comes to emerging natural gas driller Olympus Energy at an opportune time.
JEA interim CEO comes out against privatizing utility
JEA should remain owned by the city, interim JEA CEO Melissa Dykes told City Council members in a letter sent earlier today.
Although the Invitation to Negotiate process that could have seen JEA sold ended Dec. 24, the utility was still considering two other structural changes, including an IPO and converting JEA to a co-op.
“I do not believe either of these scenarios best serves the interest of our community,” Dykes said in her letter.
Dykes, who has said she will not be seeking to remain…
Hawaiian Electric sees 21% jump in solar generation capacity in 2019
Last year, Hawaii experienced the largest annual solar generation capacity increase it has seen in about 15 years, Hawaiian Electric announced on Friday.
Total solar capacity in 2019 surged 21%, increasing from 745 cumulative installed megawatts in 2018 to 902 megawatts at the end of last year — the highest single-year increase since Hawaiian Electric began tracking solar capacity in 2005.
Throughout the company’s five-island systems, there are now an estimated 3.5 million solar panels producing…
How much Maria Pope made in the sale of Pope Resources
The sale of Pope Resources could be worth at least $38 million to the family of Maria Pope, the CEO of Portland General Electric.
The Poulsbo, Washington-based timber and development company on Wednesday said it would be acquired by Wildlight, Florida-based Rayonier Inc. in a deal valued at $554 million.
Maria Pope owns 7.1 percent of the partnership units in Pope Resources, according to an April 2019 securities filing.
Previous filings said her stake includes portions held in trust for her children…
Clean energy initiative petitions rejected by Oregon secretary of state area reinstated
Two clean energy initiative petitions are back in the potential 2020 ballot mix after a Marion County Circuit Court judge ruled against Secretary of State Bev Clarno.
Initiative petitions 48 and 49 would require 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2045.
Clarno had rejected the initiative petitions in December, saying they violated the Oregon Constitution by addressing more than a single issue with wage and equity standards for renewable energy construction projects. Backers appealed just last week.
Judge…
Clean energy initiative petitions rejected by Oregon secretary of state are reinstated
Two clean energy initiative petitions are back in the potential 2020 ballot mix after a Marion County Circuit Court judge ruled against Secretary of State Bev Clarno.
Initiative petitions 48 and 49 would require 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2045.
Clarno had rejected the initiative petitions in December, saying they violated the Oregon Constitution by addressing more than a single issue with wage and equity standards for renewable energy construction projects. Backers appealed just last week.
Judge…
Schlumberger’s North America revenue down in 2019 as customers feel the squeeze
Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) reported a total 2019 revenue of $32.92 billion, basically flat with the prior year, according to its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial report.
However, it shed more than $1 billion in North American revenue during 2019, compared with the prior year, as challenges its customers faced bled into its own operations.
Schlumberger offers oil field services to exploration and production companies, but U.S. onshore oil and gas producers have faced tightening pressure…
Lawmakers’ utility-reform plans would target Duke Energy, Dominion monopolies in the Carolinas
Is it time to rein in the monopoly Duke Energy and Dominion have on energy transmission and sales in the Carolinas? A group of legislators from both states think so and have proposed legislation to study regulatory alternatives.
