NEW YORK, October 2 /PRNewswire/ --

In announcing the 2008 finalists for its annual Platts Global Energy Awards today, Platts underscores the changing emphasis of global energy towards long-term supply solutions with finalists in two new categories: Sustainable Technology Innovation of the Year and Strategic Energy Investment of the Year. Established in 1999 and referred to by past attendees as the "Oscars of Energy," the Platts Global Energy Awards recognize innovation, leadership, and superior performance in more than a dozen categories spanning the entire energy industry.

Platts further captures the industry's increased focus on future energy supply by merging two former award categories to create the Sustainable Energy Initiative of the Year award.

"In the 10-year history of the Global Energy Awards, the quality of nominations has consistently advanced with each year," said Platts President Victoria Chu Pao. "There's no doubt the judges will have an even tougher time reaching their decisions as they evaluate each of this year's finalists. Congratulations to each one of the finalists for their important contributions as exemplary performers in their respective industry categories."

Finalists in 16 awards recognition arenas were chosen from a list of just under 200 nominees by a panel of judges including former national regulators, past and present heads of major energy companies, leading academics and international energy experts. Energy Company of the Year, based on performance criteria beyond financials, will be selected from this overall list of finalists. Last year's Energy Company of the Year winner was U.S.-based NRG Energy and the CEO of the Year was Jim Rogers from Duke Energy.

Winners of the 2008 Platts Global Energy Awards will be announced at a gala celebration on Wednesday, December 3 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Each year more than 500 senior energy executives from around the world gather to attend the black-tie awards ceremony. Capgemini, one of the world's foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, is the principal sponsor.

In advance of the recognition dinner, the Platts Lecture, which coincides with this year's 10th anniversary of the Platts Global Energy Awards and Gala, will be presented by Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state. Dr. Albright's address is entitled "Sense and Sustainability: What Strategies Will Really Work to Create a New Energy Future?" Dr. Albright will be joined by additional Lecture speakers that will include globally renowned industry leaders and academics who excel in thought leadership and innovation.

The Platts Lecture will take place on December 3 at the Deutsche Bank, 60 Wall Street in New York from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Accredited media may attend the Platts Lecture and the 10th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards Gala and events as Platts' guests with advance registration at http://platts.lecture.sgizmo.com or http://platts.gea.sgizmo.com. Television cameras are welcome at the evening gala. Non-media may register at http://www.platts.com/GEAWeb/resources/jsp/lecture.jsp.

For sponsorship or additional event information, contact Patsy Wurster at +1-720-548-5583, or patsy_wurster@platts.com.

The finalists in each category include: CEO of the Year CNOOC - Fu Chengyu CNX Gas Corporation - Nicholas J. DeIuliis CPS Energy - Milton B. Lee Entergy Corporation - J. Wayne Leonard FPL Group, Inc - Lewis Hay, III Galp Energia - Manuel Ferreira De Oliveira GDF Suez - Gérard Mestrallet Peabody - Gregory H. Boyce Petrobras - José Sérgio Gabrielli de Azevedo PTT Public Company Limited - Mr. Prasert Bunsumpun Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) - Ralph Izzo Commercial Technology of the Year CNOOC CoaLogix EnerNOC, Inc. Lennox Industries Red Spider Technology Salt River Project Southern California Edison Community Development Program of the Year CPS Energy EDF Entergy Corporation MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) PTT Public Company Limited Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. UNION FENOSA Downstream Business of the Year GAIL (India) Ltd Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil) Mansfield Oil Company MOL Nyrt. Williams Energy Transporter of the Year MidAmerican Energy Pipeline Group Sovcomflot Williams Engineering Project of the Year Anadarko Petroleum Corp. CNOOC Limited EnQuest Power Corp. Entergy Corp. / GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Entergy Corp. - FitzPatrick Exelon Generating Company Shell Sovcomflot Williams

ENR Energy Construction Project of the Year Black & Veatch Northeast Utilities SGT LLC - FPL SGT LLC - Salem Unit 2 SGT West Sovcomflot We Power & URS Washington Division Wisconsin Public Service Hydrocarbon Producer of the Year CNOOC CNX Gas Corporation Patriot Coal Corporation Peabody Energy Petrobras Williams Industry Leadership Award Duke Energy EMFESZ First Hungarian Natural Gas and Energy Trading and Service LLC Essent N.V. GAIL (India) Ltd MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company Peabody Energy Shell Lifetime Achievement Award Edison International - John E. Bryson EPCO, Inc - Dan Duncan KEMA - Walter O. Stadlin Nexen - Randall Gossen Marketing Campaign of the Year Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd Detroit Edison Green Mountain Energy Company Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil) MidAmerican Energy Company Southern California Edison SouthStar Energy Services LLC Tennessee Valley Authori Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited UNION FENOSA Power Company of the Year CEZ, a. s. CPS Energy Duke Energy Entergy Corporation Tenaga Nasional Berhad Rising Star Award CoaLogix Detectent Inc EMFESZ First Hungarian Natural Gas and Energy Trading and Service LLC Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc. Galp Energia JJVL Kosmos Energy North Delhi Power Limited PowerGenix Red Spider Technology Ltd Stream Energy Risk Management Innovator of the Year No finalists were selected. Strategic Energy Investment of the Year GE Energy Financial Services National Grid Patriot Coal Corp. Peabody Energy

Sustainable Energy Initiative of the Year BPCL Kochi Refinery Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service Geothermal Project Team DTE Energy - Energy Partnership & Services Group Exelon Hydro One Inc. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority PG & E Reliance Industries Limited Hazira Manufacturing Division Roseville Electric Royal Dutch KPN Telecom Southern California Edison - Next Generation Smart Meters Southern California Edison - Photovoltaic Project Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Xcel Energy Yello Strom Sustainable Technology Innovation of the Year Fibrowatt LLC Orion Energy Systems, Inc. Sopogy, Inc. Virent Energy Systems, Inc. Fast Facts about the Platts Global Energy Awards: - Platts receives around 200 nominations each year. - This year's nominations have come from 23 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the USA. - Platts is proud to count former OPEC energy ministers, national regulators, former heads of major energy companies and leading economists, academics and legislators among its judges, past and present. - Each category in the awards has 4-6 key criteria against which the judges will evaluate each nomination. - The Platts Global Energy Awards have been described by past entrants and winners as both the "World Series" and "Academy Awards" of energy.

Capgemini (www.us.capgemini.com) is lead sponsor of the Platts Global Energy Awards for the 6th consecutive year. Co-sponsors include Elster (www.elster.com), Duff & Phelps (www.duffandphelps.com), Microsoft (www.microsoft.com), Spectra Energy (www.spectraenergy.com) in its second year, and Solarc (www.solarc.com). For information on the co-sponsors, go to: http://www.platts.com/GEAWeb/resources/jsp/aboutsponsors.jsp. R.W. Beck (www.rwbeck.com) returns for its second year as lead sponsor of the Platts Lecture and is joined by co-sponsors Oracle (www.oracle.com) and Deutsche Bank (www.db.com).

About Platts:

Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a leading global provider of energy and metals information. With nearly a century of business experience, Platts serves customers across more than 150 countries. From 17 offices worldwide, Platts serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, emissions, nuclear power, coal, petrochemical, shipping and metals markets. Platts' real time news, pricing, analytical services, and conferences help markets operate with transparency and efficiency. Traders, risk managers, analysts, and industry leaders depend upon Platts to help them make better trading and investment decisions. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com

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