A member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reiterated Tuesday  that FERC’s Order 1000, which becomes effective October 10, 2011 in the face of considerable opposition from certain elements of the electricity utilities sector, will give regional grid operators the means to improve system reliability and will also stimulate much needed investment in transmission lines.

KIOR, Inc., the Pasadena, Texas-based cellulosic fuels company that filed its IPO prospectus in April 2011, said Thursday it has priced its offering at $15 per share and will offer 10 million shares to the public and another 1.5 million shares to its underwriters as over-allotment options -- bringing the total proceeds to $172.5 million.

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) said this week its U.S. division Siemens Energy will supply power equipment and long-term service to PacifiCorp’s proposed 637-megawatt (MW) Lake Side 2 combined-cycle gas-fired power plant at Vineyard, Utah, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission said June 15 it had approved a 20-year contract for Maui Electric Company to purchase 21 megawatts (MW) of wind power from Sempra Generation’s Auwahi Wind project on the Ulupalakua Ranch in southeastern Maui. The approval also included a determination that Maui Electric could build an above-ground transmission connection to its main local grid line.

Lighting Science Group Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: LSCG), a junior light-emitting diode (LED) lighting manufacturer/marketer profiled in E•BOOM CAPITAL Wednesday, announced Thursday it had completed an $18 million private placement of its common stock. The company said the proceeds would be used to finance its aggressive marketing program. 

Shares of Lighting Science (market cap: $388 million) dropped six percent on the news.

(Other news:  Cree Announces New 60-Watt Replacement)

Shares of Allentown, Pennsylvania-based power utility PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) are up 4.5% this week after the company announced Monday that it will issue common shares worth about $2.1 billion and equity units worth about $750 million to help finance the acquisition of an energy company in the U.K. The shares and units are expected to be issued April 15.

Stock markets dropped mid-week when the collapse of Libya’s oil exports prompted speculation about worldwide economic disruption, then made up some ground Friday when Saudi Arabia offered to increase oil production during the crisis. Nevertheless, the world’s stock exchanges and most green sectors finished in negative territory for the week.