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MidAmerican and Constellation filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, October 14 seeking approval of their planned merger, continuing their string of applications for federal approvals needed to complete the union. They asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to act on the application by January 15. Under the merger agreement announced last month, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. will buy Constellation Energy for about $4.7 billion in cash. The boards of directors for both companies have approved the deal, but shareholder and state and federal approvals are still needed. Earlier this month, the companies filed applications with the NRC and Federal Communications Commission. They hope to close on the transaction in nine to 12 months.

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, agreed Thursday to acquire Constellation Energy for around 4.7 billion dollars in cash. The companies said in a joint statement that MidAmerican agreed to purchase all outstanding shares of Constellation Energy for 26.50 dollars per share. MidAmerican shares which lost about 58 percent of their value this week, leapt 1.94 percent to 25.25 dollars on the news.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized Thursday EDF Development's $4.5-billion purchase of an almost-50% stake in Constellation Energy group's nuclear generation and operations business. At the same time, the commission approved an agreement that gives Constellation the option to sell its interests in non-nuclear plants and other assets to EDF, if the companies agree on any such deals. The agreement specifies that any such deals would total up to $2 billion.

The Maryland Public Service Commission has granted a request by state officials to extend hearings regarding the proposed $4.5 billion investment in Constellation Energy by EDF, a French energy company. Constellation and EDF had been moving toward a Sept. 17 deadline to complete the deal. But the Maryland Energy Administration and other state agencies had asked for more time to review terms of the proposal.

Constellation Energy Group said Tuesday that it has appealed a Baltimore judge's decision to dismiss the company's request for review of a plan by the Public Service Commission to investigate the proposed sale of half the company's nuclear operations. The PSC said in June that it has jurisdiction to review the sale plan to French firm EDF because it would give EDF major control over Baltimore Gas and Electric, Constellation Energy's regulated utility. The PSC is considering whether the proposed $4.5-billion transaction is in the public interest. Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Stuart Berger on July 2 said the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the appeal of the PSC decision because the commission's decision to review the sale was not a final decision and therefore not subject to review. The company filed the appeal Monday to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. "We are taking this step to preserve our legal rights in the future," spokesman Robert Gould said.

A Calvert County official urged Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Friday to continue his support of Constellation Energy Group's merger with a French energy giant and its plans to build a third nuclear reactor at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby. Board of County Commissioners President Wilson H. Parran (D-Huntingtown) told O'Malley that Maryland is facing an energy shortage and that the third reactor would be a source of much-needed power. Constellation officials have said the reactor would nearly double the plant's capacity. Parran said the project would bring hundreds of jobs to the county, plus tax revenue.

Nearly 50 percent of Constellation Nuclear is in the process of being sold to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Électricité de France S.A., the world's largest nuclear power-plant owner, according to the New York State Public Service Commission. The commission approved Wednesday the $4.5 billion acquisition of nearly half of Constellation Nuclear, which is the owner of three nuclear power plants in upstate New York, including two in Oswego County. The commission's approval is one of several steps required in order to finalize the acquisition.

New York regulators have approved a French company's acquisition of three nuclear power plants in upstate New York. In February, U.S. regulators approved a $4.5 billion offer by French power giant EdF to buy nearly half of Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Group Inc.'s nuclear operations. On Tuesday, the New York State Public Service Commission approved the acquisition, which includes two Nine Mile Point nuclear plants in Oswego near Syracuse and the Ginna (gih-NAY') station in Ontario near Rochester. Constellation Energy is the parent of Baltimore Gas & Electric, Maryland's largest utility.

The proposed Calvert Cliffs 3 reactor in southern Maryland has been considered a leader in the nuclear power industry's hopes for a U.S. renaissance. It is a finalist for a multibillion-dollar Energy Department construction loan guarantee, and for months, the political and financial signals facing it have been green lights. Its developer, Baltimore-based Constellation Energy, would share the deep pockets of its French partner, Électricité de France International (EDF), the largest nuclear power provider in the world. EDF has offered Constellation $4.5 billion for a 49.99 percent share in the Maryland company's nuclear power projects, including the proposed new reactor.

French energy giant Electricite de France (EDF) has raised around 3.2 billion euros (4.4 billion dollars) via a bond-issue aimed at private individuals, its chief executive says in an interview to be published Thursday. Pierre Gadonneix told the Tribune newspaper that the figure could yet rise as the company receives the final applications from would-be investors. He also said that EDG was confident it will gain US regulatory approval to complete its purchase of a near 50-percent stake in Constellation Energy Group's nuclear business by the autumn. Gadonneix said he had recently indications from Maryland state and federal authorities that they were ready to greenlight the investment. Constellation Energy Group accepted a 4.5-billion-dollar offer from EDF for a 49.99 percent stake in its nuclear power business in December last year.

The Maryland Public Service Commission's (PSC) issuance today of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to UniStar Nuclear is a costly step in the wrong direction for Maryland's energy future. This permit serves as the state's nod to construct a new uranium-fueled reactor in southern Maryland, a decision that not only could prove to be extraordinarily costly for taxpayers - as testimony provided to the PSC made clear - but tethers Maryland to continued reliance on dirty energy generation rather than moving our state toward becoming a leader in clean energy. The permit in its current form subjects UniStar Nuclear - a joint venture between Constellation Energy and the French-state controlled Electricite de France (EDF), which increasingly controls Constellation itself - only to some minor conditions.

"Constellation Energy's new partner, EDF of France, briefed lawmakers on Wednesday on its plan to build a nuclear power plant in Maryland. The briefing was billed as a meet-and-greet for lawmakers to meet those who hold the future of Maryland's nuclear energy industry in their hands. Members of the group are from France and the UK. The state Public Service Commission approved the deal allowing EDF to partner with Constellation. EDF executives went to Annapolis to introduce themselves and brief legislators on their nuclear ambitions -- specifically, building a new nuclear power plant at the Calvert Cliffs site."

The US state of Maryland on Friday approved a plan for France' EDF Group to take a stake in Constellation Energy Group, clearing the final hurdle for a new nuclear power plant in the state. US regulators earlier this month had green-lighted the joint venture plan for the French state-controlled company to acquire nearly half of Constellation's nuclear assets. The companies say the nuclear joint venture is critical to the proposed construction of a new nuclear generation plant at Constellation's Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, which they say would represent one of the largest industrial development projects in the East Coast state. The Maryland government announced Friday conditional approval of the joint venture, depending on a one-time rate credit of 110.5 million dollars to residential ratepayers of Constellation's Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) subsidiary.

The US state of Maryland on Friday approved a plan for France' EDF Group to take a stake in Constellation Energy Group, clearing the final hurdle for a new nuclear power plant in the state. US regulators earlier this month had green-lighted the joint venture plan for the French state-controlled company to acquire nearly half of Constellation's nuclear assets. The companies say the nuclear joint venture is critical to the proposed construction of a new nuclear generation plant at Constellation's Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, which they say would represent one of the largest industrial development projects in the East Coast state. The Maryland government announced Friday conditional approval of the joint venture, depending on a one-time rate credit of 110.5 million dollars to residential ratepayers of Constellation's Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) subsidiary.

Nuclear sale contingent on energy firm, French giant offering rebate, aid The move is designed to lead to a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs. The move is designed to lead to a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs. Regulators appointed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Friday that they have offered conditional approval to let Constellation Energy Group sell nearly half its nuclear assets, including those in Calvert County, to French energy giant EDF in a move designed to lead to construction of the first new commercial nuclear reactor project in the United States in more than three decades.

Nuclear sale contingent on energy firm, French giant offering rebate, aid The move is designed to lead to a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs. The move is designed to lead to a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs. Regulators appointed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Friday that they have offered conditional approval to let Constellation Energy Group sell nearly half its nuclear assets, including those in Calvert County, to French energy giant EDF in a move designed to lead to construction of the first new commercial nuclear reactor project in the United States in more than three decades.

It is said that all that glitters is not gold. Keep that in mind when considering the bidding war heating up the nuclear power business. France's EDF has offered $6.5 billion for half of Constellation Energy Group's nuclear business and some other assets, trumping Warren Buffett's bid of $4.7 billion for all of Constellation. If plummeting demand for everything from new cars to tin foil could fell BHP's monster bid for Rio Tinto, why wouldn't it weigh on demand for energy? While nuclear power has regained some favor as a cheap, relatively clean alternative to nasty fossil fuels, is it really safe to expect consumers to ramp up electric heat this winter, and air conditioning next summer, when they are worried about losing their jobs?

Warren Buffett's decision to rescue Constellation Energy Group Inc. gives one of the nuclear power industry's biggest skeptics some important clout in deciding its future. In agreeing to a $4.7-billion cash deal for Baltimore-based Constellation, Mr. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will gain control of three nuclear power plants. In addition, it will own half of a prominent nuclear-plant development company, UniStar Nuclear Energy LLC, which is trying to accelerate construction of the next generation of nuclear plants in the U.S. Mr. Buffett, who has sizable investments in electric utilities and gas pipelines through Berkshire's energy firm, MidAmerican Energy Holding Co., has previously argued nuclear plants are too costly to build.

On the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, next to two existing atomic power reactors and just down the road from a Liquified Natural Gas terminal, a company called UniStar Nuclear Energy LLC wants to build what would be the country's largest-and probably most expensive ever-nuclear power plant. Calvert Cliffs 3 would be a 1600 Megawatt behemoth, nearly the size of the two existing reactors combined. Its technology is French: a design by Areva called the Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR). UniStar itself is half-French; the company is 50% owned by Constellation Energy, based in Baltimore, and 50% owned by Electricite de France (EdF, which also owns several percent of Constellation itself). A growing player in the nuclear power field, UniStar isn't content with just one huge new nuclear project-its ambitions are to build, with various partners, at least four new EPR reactors in the U.S. over the next several years.

A French nuclear power company is upping the ante for Constellation Energy Group, offering to pay $35 per share for the Baltimore wholesale power supplier, which last week agreed to be sold to a subsidiary of Warren E. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

With the recent settlement between the state of Maryland and Constellation Energy Group, the power company is once again championing Calvert Cliffs as the site of a new nuclear power plant. This is not a cause for celebration. On July 13, Constellation submitted the first new application to build a nuclear power plant in the U.S. since Three Mile Island. But the company threatened to go elsewhere if Maryland lawmakers re-established state regulatory control on new power plants.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved a new long-term contract for imports by a U.S. company of Russian low-enriched uranium, Russia's state nuclear company Atomenergoprom said on Friday. On August 19, the department "approved a direct contract for deliveries by Techsnabexport [Atomenergoprom's uranium export arm] of enriched uranium to the U.S. energy company Constellation Energy Nuclear Group," the company said in a statement. The contract is the sixth in a series of deals between U.S. firms and Techsnabexport signed in May-July of this year. The department earlier approved two Techsnabexport contracts with electricity supplier and distributor Exelon Corporation, and is currently considering approval of three other contracts with the fuel industry servicing company Fuelco.