Services

Although New England faces a host of natural gas transmission and storage challenges, many projects are in various stages of development in the region, according to a panel of energy industry executives.

Private equity from Natural Gas Partners (NGP) is going into yet another new U.S. onshore firm, the latest an oilfield services operator led by a former top executive for Weatherford International.

A C$2.3 billion (US$2.1 billion) and growing lineup of pipeline and industrial projects has formed in Ontario and Quebec for further increases in Canadian imports of shale gas from the eastern United States.

FERC on Thursday reinforced its decision of last fall to allow Trunkline Gas Co. to convert a looped portion of its 770-mile natural gas line from the Gulf of Mexico to Michigan to use as an oil pipeline, saying the remaining loops were adequate to handle its firm gas service (see Daily GPI, Nov. 8, 2013).

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (PSC) has given Washington Gas Light Co., a subsidiary of WGL Holdings Inc., conditional approval to implement the first five years of a 40-year plan to replace aging, corroded or leaking natural gas pipelines under the nation's capital.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) on Wednesday approved Portland-based NW Natural’s proposal to offer compressed natural gas (CNG) services for the first time. The service is restricted to business vehicle fleets.

State regulators have approved an application from Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) for Phase 1 of its Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project (ANGP), which would extend service to the towns of Monkton, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes, New Haven, Bristol, Middlebury and East Middlebury in Addison County, the South Burlington, VT-based utility said.

The rate hike reflects the larger-than-expected first-year total cost of service of $250.2 million for the expansion, which is expected to go into service on Nov. 1.

Towns across the region continue to push for connection to the natural gas grid.