Business Briefs for the week of January 16, 2006

Jan 20, 2006 8:35 AM

Washington Group International, Advent Solar, Burns & McDonnell

Boise, Idaho-based Washington Group International, Inc. recently accepted a contract by Princeton, N.J.-based NRG Energy, Inc. to provide program management services during development, engineering and design, and construction and commissioning of the fourth power unit at the Big Cajun II generating station near New Roads, La. The 675MW coal-fired unit will bring the station’s total output to 2,405MW and is scheduled to be in commercial operation in late 2009.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Albuquerque, N.M.’s Advent Solar, Inc. recently took place in the Mesa del Sol area on the Southest Mesa south of the Albuquerque International Sunport. The 87,596-square-foot, one-story LEED-certified building will cost an estimated $6 million and is expected to be completed by late 2006.

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy has selected Kansas City, Mo.-based Burns& McDonnell to provide permitting, land acquisition, design, and construction for transmission line upgrades in southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. The $125-million contract includes an 86-mile 345kV line, a 40-mile 115kV transmission line, two substations, and two substation upgrades.