Power plant construction has number of competitive benefits

A growing list of energy wholesalers and generating companies are building new power plants not just to meet increasing supply needs, but as a way to gain a key competitive edge in the restructuring energy market. Reliant Energy, FPL Energy, Aquila and Mirant are just a few of the major players putting up the huge ante required to bring new plants online, according to the October issue of Energy Competition Strategy Report, published by Atlanta-based NHI Publications.
According to energy executives interviewed in the report, in addition to the obvious supply issues, there are a number of competitive benefits to power plant construction: -- improving fuel mix by investing in advanced generating technologies that use renewable energy sources;
-- expanding geographically, promoting more long-term power sales agreements and a more predictable income stream;
-- enhanced credibility, which leads to easier project financing in the future.
In addition to delving into the competitive issues surrounding plant construction, the report provides practical advice and guidance on getting a massive power plant project done on time and on budget, from siting the plant to enhancing supply chain management.

Other highlights of October's Energy Competition Strategy Report include:
-- PJM Interconnection, Morristown, PA, has developed a highly successful model for operating a competitive wholesale power market and has avoided rolling blackouts in its mid-Atlantic area in the process. PJM's achievement provides a counterpoint to California's faulty system and could become a national model.
-- Colorado State University is developing a micropilot ignition system that promises to increase gas pipeline throughput and improve efficiency in the nation's pipeline system.
-- Energy company chief information officers increasingly are becoming technology drivers, transformation agents, and leaders. Here's an insightful look at the most important competencies CIOs must achieve to transform an IT organization into a business discipline and their key strategies for aligning IT operations with their core businesses.
-- The award-winning creator of the Retail Value Chain model explains how this methodology can link technologies to business processes, and how this can help retail energy marketers.
-- As deregulation pushes the utility industry to consolidate, utilities must develop new strategies to remain competitive. A consolidation expert advises the best and quickest way to obtain return on investment.