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PUC of Texas Approves Entergy Texas' Plans to Build Over 1,200 MW of Gas-Fired Capacity

LCG, September 12, 2025--Entergy announced yesterday that the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) approved Entergy Texas’ proposal to build two efficient natural gas-fired power plants to support the region’s rapid growth. The combined electric generating capacity of the two facilities, the Legend Power Station and the Lone Star Power Station, will add over 1,200 MW to the Southeast Texas power grid to support new customer demand, increase reliability and lower costs for all customers. Both facilities are scheduled to commence operations by mid-2028.

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Puget Sound Energy Starts Construction on 142-MW Appaloosa Solar Project in Washington

LCG, September 4, 2025--Puget Sound Energy (PSE) announced yesterday that phased construction has commenced on its 142-MW Appaloosa Solar Project, a utility-scale solar facility underway in southeastern Washington. The project is being built by Qcells EPC, who will serve as the module manufacturer and the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solution provider. Construction is scheduled through 2026, and commercial operation is expected at the end of next year.

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Industry News

CPUC Upholds Non-utility Power Deals

LCG, Mar. 22, 2002--By a 3-2 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission yesterday allowed large energy customers who signed deals with non-utility energy providers and marketers through September 2001 to continue as "direct access" customers.

The vote was supported by Jeff Brown, Henry Duque and Michael Peevey, Gov. Davis' latest appointee, after the Legislature had not yet produced legislation concerning "exit fees" that would be assessed on direct access customers. The exit fees, which Brown said would be the PUC's priority, would be a way to spread part of the costs associated with the state's power crisis among all customer groups, and would likely be assessed according to actual consumption. Brown said that if exit fee assessments are not sufficient to mitigate the additional cost impact of deregulation on small customers, he would vote to revoke contracts that were signed after July 1, 2001. A previous vote stopped new direct-access contracts signed after September 20th.

Approximately 12 percent of the energy consumed within the service territories of PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. has been purchased by direct access customers, who include large businesses, municipalities, school districts, and the state university system.

PUC President Loretta Lynch and Commissioner Carl Wood, who voted to end direct access, said that the Legislature's order last year that the PUC suspend direct access meant that the Commission should not try to interpret the law, but implement it. Doug Heller of the Foundation Taxpayer and Consumer Right said of the decision, "they're allowing the very same businesses that pushed for deregulation to escape the problems that resulted from deregulation."

Lynch said the commission voted without a clear legal ability to instate an exit fee. Earl Bouse, who chairs the California Large Energy Consumers Association, and is an executive at Hanson Permanente, a cement company in Cupertino, said that an exit fee as has been proposed by state consultants could wipe out savings realized from direct-access. The fee proposed was 2.395 cents per kilowatt hour, to which Bouse responded, "then it's a question of whether we can continue to do business in California."
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