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Americas

US law firm to investigate Dow Chemical over alleged pension changes

US class-action law firm Hagens Berman says it will investigate potential claims against Dow Chemical after the company allegedly made substantive changes to its employee pension plan, actions which may violate US federal law.

Energy Transfer to buy Southern Union for $4.2bn, form leading US pipeline company

Energy Transfer (ETE) and Southern Union (SUG) have entered into a merger agreement whereby ETE will buy Southern Union for $7.9 billion, including about $3.7 billion in debt, creating one of the top integrated midstream companies in the US natural gas pipeline industry.

Gevo, Redfield JV to retrofit US ethanol plant to isobutanol

Renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels firm Gevo has formed a joint venture with Redfield Energy to retrofit an existing ethanol plant in Redfield, S.D., into an isobutanol plant with an expected production capacity of 38mn gal/year.

Shaw completes new natgas-fired US power plant

The Shaw Group said Wednesday that it completed construction of a new, 500-megawatt nominal combined-cycle natural gas-fired plant for NV Energy at the existing Harry Allen Generating Station north of Las Vegas.

Multi-Chem reports fire at Louisiana storage site, no one injured

Multi-Chem reported a fire that spread to storage containers at its New Iberia oilfield chemicals site in Louisiana at 3:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Multi-Chem said it contacted local and state authorities who are coordinating the emergency response. The company accounted for all facility personnel and there were no injuries reported.

Air Liquide inks deal to supply Valero refineries in Texas with hydrogen

Air Liquide has signed a long-term agreement to supply hydrogen to two Valero refineries in Texas, one in Texas City and the other in Port Arthur.

Air Products buys US semiconductor equipment firm Poly-Flow Engineering

Air Products has acquired the business of Poly-Flow Engineering (PFE), a manufacturer of equipment for the semiconductor industry based in Albuquerque, N.M. Terms of the deal with PFE and its owner Ktech Corporation were not disclosed.

Biodiesel market in US to more than double by 2015 - study

The US biodiesel industry will grow to support more than 74,000 jobs throughout the economy by 2015 while creating some $4 billion in household income, more than doubling current levels, according to an economic study released Tuesday by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).

US research center produces first jet fuel from both coal, biomass feedstocks

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota said its refining technologies have led to a breakthrough in production, creating jet fuel from a combination of both coal and biomass feedstocks.

Kentucky PVC pipe production facility shuttered

Westlake Chemical Corp.’s North American Pipe Corp. subsidiary has shut down its Springfield, Kentucky, PVC pipe production facility in an effort to reduce costs and optimize production operations as a result of excess capacity in the PVC pipe market.