![](media/image1.jpeg){width="8.5in" height="3.5027777777777778in"}U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

**Office of Electricity and\
Energy Assurance**

**ENERGY ASSURANCE DAILY**

**April 1, 2005**

**Electricity\
**

**Oak Creek, WI Power Plant Proposal Goes to State Supreme Court**

The bid to build two coal-fired power plants in suburban Milwaukee was
denied by a county judge on the basis that the PSC did not follow state
law by considering alternatives to coal.

Energy Central,
<http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/power/news_article.cfm?id=5570094>

**CMS Energy Seeks to Renew Palisades Operating License**

CMS Energy has asked the NRC for a 20-year renewal for the 789MW
Palisades nuclear plant near South Haven, Michigan. The current license
expires in 2011.

Energy Central,
<http://www.energycentral.com/centers/news/daily/article.cfm?aid=5572092>

**Exelon's 1,177MW Braidwood 2 Nuke Exits Outage**

The unit was shut on March 28^th^ after an apparent failed electrical
connection. The unit ramped up to 15 percent early Friday.

Reuters 1434, April 1, 2005

**Exelon's 1,116MW Peach Bottom Unit 3 at Full Power**

The unit was reduced March 25^th^ to test a suspected fuel problem.

Bloomberg News 0729, April 1, 2005

**Alliant's 730MW Ottumwa Power Station Remains Offline, IA**

Delivery problems with a replacement transformer are delaying the
restart of the 730MW coal-fired plant in Iowa.

Reuters 1354, April 1, 2005

**Petroleum**

**Oil Hits Record, Prices Near \$58**

Oil prices reached a new record today. Prices soared more than two
dollars a barrel powered in part by a forecast claiming the market could
spike above \$100 due to demand and tight capacity. U.S. light crude
rose \$2.40 to \$57.70 a barrel.

Reuters 1407, April 1, 2005

**Natural Gas**

**Delaware Blocks New Jersey LNG Terminal Again**

The Delaware Coastal Zone Industrial Council confirmed that Delaware
officials can block a BP LNG terminal proposed for the NJ shore because
its pier would occupy waters controlled by Delaware.

Energy Central,
<http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/gas/news_article.cfm?id=5571384>

**NM Natural Gas Pipeline Expanded**

Demand for natural gas in northwestern New Mexico has prompted the
expansion of a feeder line known as the San Juan Lateral in the area.
The expansion adds 375MMcf/d to existing capacity in a line paralleling
the existing 30-inch line that runs from San Juan Basin, through Gallup,
and onto Transwestern's main east-west line. The new line was filled
with natural gas in mid-March.

Energy Central,

<http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/gas/news_article.cfm?id=5569160>

**Other News**

**Nuclear Fuel Plant Gets the Go-Ahead**

A mixed-oxide fuel plant that would convert weapons-grade plutonium into
fuel for nuclear power reactors received a permit to begin construction.
Delays in construction have raised questions as to whether the plant
will meet a 2009 production deadline.

Energy Central,

<http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/power/news_article.cfm?id=5571546>

**Energy Prices**

+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+
|                               | **Latest  | **Week    | **Year     |
|                               | (04       | Ago**     | Ago**      |
|                               | /01/05)** |           |            |
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+
| **CRUDE OIL**                 | 57.26     | 49.70     | 34.47      |
|                               |           |           |            |
| **West Texas Intermediate     |           |           |            |
| US**                          |           |           |            |
|                               |           |           |            |
| \$/Barrel                     |           |           |            |
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+
| **NATURAL GAS**               | 7.57      | 7.07      | 5.82       |
|                               |           |           |            |
| **Henry Hub**                 |           |           |            |
|                               |           |           |            |
| \$/Million Btu                |           |           |            |
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+------------+

> Source: Reuters
>
> \*\*\*Note: Beginning on Wednesday of last week (March 23), the
> Reuters spot price for WTI was much less than what other sources
> reported. Although it is clear that the price of crude dropped on
> Wednesday following the release by EIA of larger than expected
> petroleum stock numbers, other sources put the drop in the range of
> \$2.00 to \$5.25 whereas Reuters reported a price drop for WTI crude
> oil of about \$6.50. On March 29^th^ the price differential appears to
> have closed with respect to the spot prices by Reuters and Bloomberg
> (\$54.26 and \$54.30 respectively).

**This Week in Petroleum** from the Energy Information Administration
(EIA)

[*http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp*](http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp)

Updated on Wednesdays

**Weekly Petroleum Status Report** from EIA**\
**[*http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/wpsr.html*](http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/wpsr.html)

Updated after 1:00pm (Eastern time) on Wednesdays

**Natural Gas Weekly Update** from EIA

[*http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp*](http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp)

Updated after 2:00 pm (Eastern time) on Thursdays

**ENSEC threat awareness blog site** from Energy Assurance

[*http://ensec.blogspot.com*](http://ensec.blogspot.com/)