ENERGY

Edison, Kenetech Sign Deal for Wind-Generated Energy: In an agreement worth roughly $37.5 million to San Francisco-based Kenetech Corp., Southern California Edison Co. has agreed to buy 37.5 megawatts of electricity generated from wind turbines to be erected at an as-yet undetermined site. Edison could also return to Kenetech for another 420 megawatts of power should demand increase. A larger preliminary agreement--for 500 megawatts of power--had been announced in March. Edison hopes to persuade the California Public Utility Commission to accept the deal in place of a PUC-mandated auction in which Kenetech would win contracts for 495 megawatts, more power than the utility says it needs. Edison said the deal delivers power cheaper than the 5-cent to 6-cent per kilowatt power of the auction. Kenetech cited the “certainty” of the deal over the still-disputed auction.