Operation

A $619 million, 580 MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle electric generation plant has begun commercial operation in Virginia, according to owner/operator, Dominion Virginia Power. The Bear Garden Power Station is in the central part of the state, about 60 miles west of Richmond. Construction began in spring 2009. Bear Garden has two gas-fired combustion turbines, with oil as a backup fuel source. The turbines each generate 170 MW, and their exhaust is used to generate an additional 240 MW.

The first liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicle fueling station east of the Mississippi River began operation Thursday in Bridgeport, CT, setting several firsts for supplier Distrigas of Massachusetts LLC. Waste hauler Enviro Express Natural Gas LLC owns and operates the station, offering both LNG and compressed natural gas (CNG).

A California-based company, which now provides produced water services to several shale producers, on Tuesday said an Encana Corp. subsidiary would be the sole fuel supplier for its new fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks, which initially would service Haynesville Shale producers.

Washington state regulatory commission staff on Monday filed a complaint against Cascade Natural Gas Co. alleging “serious safety violations” in the operation of the utility’s natural gas distribution system in parts of the state. The Kennewick, WA-based MDU Resources Group utility contends that its system is safe, although it does not dispute the allegations, a company spokesperson told NGI Tuesday.

Support — contingent on FERC first resolving some concerns — has been expressed for Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC’s application to add a new liquefaction operation to its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Cameron Parish, LA, transforming it into a “bidirectional facility” for the purpose of exporting LNG. A trade group representing municipal gas utilities appeared to be the sole opponent to the project.

Widespread support has been expressed at FERC for Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC’s application to add a new liquefaction operation to its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Cameron Parish, LA, transforming it into a “bidirectional facility” for the purpose of exporting LNG. Some parties, such as Chevron U.S.A. Inc., said their support was conditioned on Sabine Pass responding to a series of questions. A trade group representing municipal gas utilities lodged the only protest to the project.

Dominion said Wednesday it has optioned land in Natrium, WV, to constructa natural gas processing and fractionation facility that would support wet natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale.

Bison Pipeline LLC has asked FERC to approve its request to put the bulk of its pipeline project in service by Tuesday (Jan. 4).

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has installed a new air monitor in Flower Mound, TX, in southern Denton County to track the effects of Barnett Shale gas patch activity.