InShort Renewable energy projects across the region produce £42m worth of electricity a year - the most in England.

STL Heating & Energy (STL) is dedicated to recruiting local people from Liverpool and the North West area, helping them to improve their communities, lower heating bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The firm, based at Knowsley Business Park, has taken on more than 12 new members staff from the area since moving to the new Knowsley premises, including a mixture of skilled labour, apprentices, office and trade workers, management trainees and graduates, including marketing manager Aaron Hanmer.

He said: "We are always looking to recruit keenminded young people to our ever-expanding workforce - office staff of various roles, gas engineers, electricians, plumbers and, of course, apprentices, all form part of the STL team."

New Delhi, June 10 -- Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) announced today a major expansion of its Transco natural gas pipeline was completed and brought into service, providing an additional 225,000 dekatherms of incremental firm natural gas transportation capacity to growing markets in the Southeast United States.

MUMBAI: Cash-rich global power utilities, which were looking at India to fuel their growth ambition, are losing patience and, in some instances, have even wrapped up their presence in the country due to uncertainties in the sector and the slow pace of reform.

Lured by the demand-supply mismatch in electricity generation and the merger and acquisition opportunities in India, almost half a dozen foreign players, including giants like E.ON of Germany and France-based GDF Suez, had come scouting for opportunities in India around two-three years back.

ENP Newswire - 11 June 2013

Release date- 07062013 - The Gazprom headquarters hosted today the Press Conference 'Gazprom's Power Generation Strategy' held on the threshold of the Company's annual General Shareholders Meeting.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued directives to Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Munir A Malik to hold a consultative session with all the stakeholders including Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and experts in the field for equitable distribution of electricity between domestic and industrial consumers.

Tokyo, June 6, 2013 - (JCN) - Mitsui & Co. will participate in two power generation projects that are the first large scale IPP (Independent Power Producer) basis projects in the Republic of South Africa(the Projects).

AUGUSTA, Maine, June 10 -- The Democratic majority in the Maine State House of Representatives issued the following news release:

The Maine House of Representatives on Friday overwhelmingly gave its final approval to a historic, bipartisan omnibus energy bill that would create jobs, lower costs for families and businesses, increase efficiencies, reduce air pollution and improve the natural gas infrastructure.

Turn to page 2 PLANS for a £35 billion Severn barrage look effectively dead in the water.

A group of MPs on an influential House of Commons select committee has concluded the case for a tidal barrage across the Severn estuary to generate electricity is as yet "unproven". It cannot recommend the Hafren Power scheme, describing it as "no knight in shining armour for renewables".

There will be cheers from the Bristol Port company as the verdict should allow it to go ahead with plans for a deep container port that could create thousands of jobs.

Sri Lanka, June 9 -- Amana Bank has partnered renewable energy provider Vidullanaka PLC to finance their latest Mini Hydro Power Project (MHPP) at Madugeta in the Galle district.

By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JUNE 08, 2013: ELECTRICITY Act, 2003 provides for promotion of efficient and environmentally benign policies and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. In particular, Section 86(1)(e) of the Electricity Act, 2003, mandates State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs)/Joint Electricity Regulatory Commissions (JERCs) to specify Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target for the obligated entities in their state. Extract from the said section is reproduced as under:

Dubai, June 8 -- HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, has chaired the 23rd meeting of the Supreme Council that was held at the Council's headquarters. This meeting was attended by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman, Ahmed Butti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Council. The meeting was also attended by the Council's members, including Abdullah Kalban, President and CEO of Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL), Abdullah Abdel Kareem, Director General of the Department of Oil Affairs, Saeed Khoory, CEO of ENOC, Waleed Salman, Chairman of the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, Jeff Severin, GM of Dubai Petroleum Establishment and representatives from DUSUP. During the meeting, some issues were discussed, including energy efficiency and management and other relevant matters. The Supreme Council also reviewed the systems and procedures applied to regulate the trade of petroleum derivatives in the Emirate of Dubai.

Tata Power Company Ltd. (TPCL) is an integrated power company. It operates in two segments: power, where it is engaged in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and others where it is engaged in defence electronics, project contracts/infrastructure management services, coal bed methane and property development.

The project, named Wildcat Point Generation Facility, was first announced in April. The filing comes the same week the Cecil County Council unanimously adopted a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, or PILOT, for Wildcat Point that would yield the County $124.2 million through 2051. Wildcat Point would be built five miles west of the Town of Rising Sun adjacent to the Rock Springs Generation Facility, which ODEC constructed and which became operational in 2003. It would generate approximately 1,000MW of power, enough to serve 390,000 homes annually. Wildcat Point would provide ODEC's 11 member distribution cooperatives a new source of reliable electricity, including 52,000 members on Maryland's Eastern Shore, the company said. "Our region needs new sources of cost-effective, reliable and environmentally balanced electricity," said Lisa Johnson, ODEC's senior vice president and COO. "This filing makes a compelling case for Wildcat Point, from ODEC's proven track record building and owning a generation facility in Maryland to the rising demand for electricity in our region. We are grateful for the broad support we have received from the Cecil County government and look forward to working with the PSC during their review of our application."

On June 6, 2013, the Gazprom headquarters hosted the Press Conference "Gazprom's Power Generation Strategy" held on the threshold of the Company's annual General Shareholders Meeting. Taking part in the Press Conference was Denis Fyodorov, Head of the Directorate for Power Sector Development and Marketing in Power Generation of Gazprom and Director General of Gazprom Energoholding.

The following information was released by the Maine House of Representatives, Democrats:

The Maine House of Representatives on Friday overwhelmingly gave its final approval to a historic, bipartisan omnibus energy bill that would create jobs, lower costs for families and businesses, increase efficiencies, reduce air pollution and improve the natural gas infrastructure.

(CORRECTED COPY: ADDS TO SPEAKERS LIST)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES HOLDS A HEARING ON INTERIOR DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

JUNE 6, 2013

SPEAKERS: SEN. , RON WYDEN, D-ORE. CHAIRMAN SEN. , TIM JOHNSON, D-S.D. SEN. MARY L. LANDRIEU, D-LA. SEN. MARIA CANTWELL, D-WASH. SEN. DEBBIE STABENOW, D-MICH. SEN. MARK UDALL, D-COLO. SEN. AL FRANKEN, D-MINN. SEN. JOE MANCHIN III, D-W.VA. SEN. CHRIS COONS, D-DEL. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ, D-HAWAII SEN. MARTIN HEINRICH, D-N.M.

SEN. BERNARD SANDERS, I-VT.

Cash-rich global power utilities,which were looking at India to fuel their growth ambition,are losing patience and,in some instances,have even wrapped up their presence in the country,due to uncertainties in the sector and the slow pace of reform.Lured by the demand-supply mismatch in electricity generation and the merger and acquisition opportunities in India,almost half-a-dozen foreign players,including giants like E.ON of Germany and Francebased GDF Suez,had come scouting for opportunity in India around twothree years ago.But E.ON has wound up its India office,while others are either in the process of shutting shop or have put their plans for the country on the back burner."E.ON remains fundamentally interested in the long-term growth opportunities that the Indian power sector may offer in future and will continue to monitor the market as it develops.Currently,we are not running an office in Mumbai anymore," Heike Cosse from the political affairs and corporate communications team of E.ON told ET.Responding to ET's query,GDF Suez said,"We see opportunities to grow our portfolio in the country,but cannot further comment in this early stage." Two industry executives said that GDF looked at a few M&A proposals,but is not very keen to invest in the power sector right now.Despite 100% foreign direct investment allowed in power projects,India has only two foreign players operating power plants - AES of the US and China Light and Power (CLP).AES scaled down its operations and has restricted its presence to its stake in a plant in Orissa.CLP has scrapped thermal power plans and will only pursue renewable energy projects."We hope that the issues affecting the thermal power generation sector are resolved soon with substantial and durable reform in the sector as a whole.Until then,it would be difficult for us to justify further investments in the thermal power sector in India," said Rajiv Mishra,managing director of CLP's India arm.India plans to add 88,000 megawatts of power generation capacity in the 12th Five-Year Plan ending 2017.The government's ambitious target of $1-trillion investment during the five years in infrastructure,led by $400-billion investment in the power sector,hinges on a substantial participation from the private sector.Foreign investment in the sector would have gone a long way,given that local generators are struggling with huge debt and high interest rate.Also,equity investment in existing projects by these global majors would have helped highly-leveraged companies like Lanco,GMR,GVK,among others."We have been talking to foreign utilities for stake sale,but they feel that the risk potential in the country is very high.With so many uncertainties,overseas investors are not keen to enter the market right now,even if they have a long-term positive view," said T Adibabu,chief operating officer,Lanco Infratech.Consultants advising some of these global utilities say that these companies were aware of challenges faced by the Indian power sector at the time of the entry,but had made plans of expanding in the country hoping that the government would implement initiatives to revive the sector and expedite projects.But they are losing patience due to continued delay in projects,problems relating to fuel availability and land acquisition,and the slow pace of reforms in the sector."These global utilities are serious long-term players with growth aspirations and don't want to wait.They may allocate resources in other countries for better returns,but could return to India if they see stability," said Rahool Panandiker,principal,The Boston Consulting Group.Indian companies are wary of new investments,but those keen to expand their power generation capacity like Tata Power are also looking at countries like Vietnam and South Africa."In the 90s,more than 20 international power companies were keen to invest in India.At that time,investments could not materialise as there were instability around policy and regulatory regime.Electricity Act 2003 broadly addressed these,but now the foreign investors are very concerned over fuel availability,financial situation of distribution utilities and delay in getting key clearances," said Debasish Mishra,senior director,Deloitte.Industry players believe that despite the finance minister's attempts to attract foreign investment,investment in the power sector may start flowing in only when investors have the comfort that projects would have fuel get fuel and would have payment security from state electricity