Almost four months after its scheduled date, Maine Natural Gas(MNG), a joint venture between the CMP Group and Energy East, begandelivery of natural gas yesterday to Calpine Corp.’s new 540 MWelectric generating facility located in Westbrook, ME. The companyalso began supplying the University of Southern Maine (USM) andparts of Gorham, ME.

Expected to be in full commercial service by March 1, 2001, theCalpine plant will produce enough electric power to meet the needsof more than 500,000 homes. The $200 million Calpine facility wasoriginally expected to be ready for gas delivery by June 1, 2000.

Not only will MNG supply gas to the facility, it has also enteredinto a long term contract to deliver gas to the USM, and parts ofGorham, ME (see Daily GPI, July 11). “Weare excited about the opportunity to provide many years of quality gasservice to Calpine, USM and homes and businesses in Gorham,” saidDavid T. Flanagan, president of Energy East. “Competitively pricedand clean-burning natural gas will benefit our economy, ourenvironment and consumers here in Maine.”

MNG will draw gas off of the Portland Natural Gas Transmissionsystem and the Maritimes and Northeast pipeline system to feedCalpine with approximately 90,000 Dth/d, with a capacity of 100,000Dth/d on its newly completed two-mile lateral. MNG will also pullfrom these systems to deliver to the USM campus and Gorhamcustomers.

The Calpine plant’s electric generation will be delivered to theNew England grid to serve Maine and the New England region ingeneral.

MNG’s actions are consistent with a Maine Public UtilitiesCommission ruling last December that allowed the company to supplygeneral Gorham customers, but said a more specific proposal would benecessary for MNG to move into Northern Utilities territory ofWestbrook, a larger gas service area (see Daily GPI, Dec. 23, 1999).

“If we had contracts for gas in Westbrook, we certainly are opento go back to the commission and seek their approval to serveWestbrook as well,” said MNG spokesman Roy Lane. At thisparticular point we are not focused on doing any marketing inWestbrook, but we will certainly be looking to market anywhere [inthe future].”

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