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Uncertainty surrounding the U.S. stimulus package and carbon legislation and the thawing of the credit markets were overarching topics at Platts' 24th Annual Global Power Markets Conference.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy is considering developing solar projects of at least 60 MW capacity in the southwestern U.S. and is considering partnering with developers for the facilities. "For a company as large as Duke it doesn't make any sense to do these small installations because they just become distractions," Keith Trent, group investment and chief strategy policy and regulatory officer, said on the sidelines.

Energy Investors Funds is in the process of funding two biomass projects in the Northeast, Herb Magid, managing director, told PFR on the conference sidelines. The projects are 30-50 MW in size and located in Connecticut and Massachusetts, he said, declining to disclose deal specifics or further details.

Competitive Power Ventures is looking to fund a few hundred megawatts of wind projects in Kansas and Oklahoma late this year. John Foster, executive v.p., declined to disclose total project cost, but told PFR on the sidelines $2,000 per kW is an appropriate estimate.

RES Americas is preparing to finalize the sale of one or more wind assets. "We're deciding between buyers right now," Richard Ashby, cfo told PFR.

Private equity firms have been tightly holding on to funds partly because pension fund backers are weighing on them more than ever to deliver high, stable returns. "What drives private equity in the near-term is the pressure they are feeling from pension funds and [limited partners]," said Jim Metcalfe, global head of power and utilities at UBS at the Financing Strategies Round Table Discussion Tuesday. "The LPs are requiring a greater scrutiny on the investments. Private equity requires a certain amount [of returns] and less in terms of debt financing," said Tom Lynch, managing director at Deutsche Bank.

Despite uncertain commodity prices, developers and financiers have tagged gas-fired generation as the solution to intermittent renewables. "We believe gas is key to [renewable] integration," said John Foster, executive v.p. of Competitive Power Ventures. "We're not going to be able to build renewables without gas," Gerry Loughman, senior v.p. of development at Edison Mission Energy, said on the sidelines

GE Energy Financial Services is looking to make tax equity investments this year after the company announced it would halt such investments in renewables in October. "We're definitely doing tax equity this year, though our appetite is more modest than last year," Kevin Walsh, leader of power and renewable energy, told PFR.

Baker & Mackenzie gave out malleable dolls decked out in ties and jackets with the slogan "Stressed? Squeeze a lawyer?" at its kiosk. "Given the times, they might be pretty helpful to you," says Christopher Groobie, partner to an audience of bankers and developers.

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