U.S. nuclear plant says shielded against Japan emergency

A U.S. nuclear plant in Alabama similar in design to the earthquake-hit Fukushima facility in Japan has multiple defenses to prevent and tackle the same kind of emergency, its operator said. Safety features at the Browns Ferry plant in northern Alabama are so superior to those at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant that even in the event of massive... 

Ashland Inc. Board Announces $400 Million Stock Repurchase Program, Intends to Increase Annual Dividend

Ashland Inc. announced today that its board of directors approved a $400 million stock repurchase program. Under the program, the company’s common shares will be purchased through a combination of a 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and discretionary purchases on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The amount and timing of any... 

Japan radiation leak evokes Three Mile Island

The radiation leak in Japan immediately recalls memories of accidents at the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island power stations, and how it unfolds will be a critical test for international acceptance of nuclear energy. The Fukushima incident, brought on by the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Japan, took a turn for the worse on Saturday after a blast... 

Wall Street up on energy shares after Japan quake

Stocks rose on Friday, led by gains in energy shares after Japan’s biggest earthquake on record hurt the country’s oil refining capacity, but trade was choppy as investors tried to weigh the quake’s economic impact. The 8.9 magnitude quake that struck the northeast coast of Japan, the world’s third largest economy, triggered... 

Headwaters Incorporated Announces Closing of 7-5/8% Senior Secured Notes Due 2019

Headwaters Incorporated today announced the closing of its offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7-5/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes are senior secured obligations of Headwaters and are guaranteed by certain of Headwaters’ existing and future domestic subsidiaries. Net proceeds from the offering were... 

Moody’s Confirms Nexen’s Investment Grade Credit Rating

Earlier today, Moody’s Investors Service announced the completion of their credit review and confirmed Nexen’s Baa3 rating with a negative outlook. We expect to retain this rating and remove the negative outlook by reducing our debt to levels commensurate with the rating by late this year or early 2012, and retaining sufficient cash to fund... 

W2 Modifies the SunFilter 1 Reactor to Operate 300% More Efficiently on New Algae Strain

W2 Energy, Inc., a clean energy company is pleased to announce that as of March 1, it has converted the SunFilter 1 algae reactor to use Euglena Gracilis, a more efficient strain of algae. The Euglena Gracilis strain of algae grows in fresh water rather than saltwater, and can sequester 40% of the carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. The previously... 

Beaver Valley Unit 2 Begins Refueling

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company announced its Beaver Valley Power Station Unit 2 in Shippingport, Pa., shut down earlier today for scheduled refueling and maintenance. While the unit is off line, 64 of the 157 fuel assemblies will be replaced and numerous safety inspections will be conducted. In addition, preventative maintenance to ensure continued... 

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. Announces 2010 Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial Results

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. On October 27, 2009, Algonquin Power Income Fund became a wholly owned subsidiary of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (collectively “APUC”), maintaining the same operations and business activities, but under... 

Texas Allied Petroleum Reworks Laramie Fields

Texas Allied Petroleum, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has successfully reworked its Cooper Cove, Herrick and Little Laramie fields in Wyoming. Daily production from the three fields is approximately 100 barrels of oil per day. A surface discharge system is currently being permitted, which has potential to increase production and decrease operating...