Natural Gas in New England

Natural Gas Consumers

Energy Information Administration (EIA) statistics for the year 2007 reflect approximately 2.47 million natural gas customers in New England; 2.2 million residential customers and about 250,000 commercial and industrial customers [see table and charts below).

Source link: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_cons_num_dcu_nus_a.htm

Natural Gas Consumption

The Energy Information Administration’s Table 2 – Energy Consumption by Sector and Source forecasts Delivered Natural Gas Consumption, All Sectors growth rate of 0.3% through 2030. In New England, New Hampshire ranked fourth in total natural gas consumption in 2007, behind Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Natural gas is the primary heating fuel for 34%* of residential homes in New England.

*Northeast Gas Association 2008 Statistical Guide

New England Natural Gas Consumption

EIA Statistics – Volumes in Millions of Cubic Feet [1 million cubic feet = 10,000 Therms]

Source link: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_cons_sum_dcu_nus_m.htm

The fastest growing gas consumption sector, nationally and regionally, has been gas for electric power generation. Gas-fired electric power generation accounted for approximately 38% of total natural gas consumption in New England in 2001; in 2007 it accounted for nearly 50% of New England’s natural gas consumption.

In New Hampshire, gas fired electric power generation facilities accounted for just 2% percent of total natural gas consumption in 2001; in 2007 it accounted for 63% of total natural gas consumption.

New Hampshire Natural Gas Consumption

EIA Statistics – Volumes in Millions of Cubic Feet

Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Growing demand, particularly in the power generation sector, as noted above, has spawned new growth in regional gas pipeline infrastructure. There are approximately 2,600 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline and six interstate gas pipeline systems delivering gas from multiple supply points into New England . Most of these existing pipeline systems have taken on expansion projects during recent years. These pipelines deliver gas from supply basins in the Gulf Coast , western Canada , eastern Canada ( Sable Island , Deep Panuke) and from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Massachusetts . The interstate natural gas pipelines serving New England are:

• Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP)
• http://www.tennesseeadvantage.com/default.asp
• Algonquin Gas Transmission (AGT)
• http://www.spectraenergy.com/businesses/us/facilities/algonquin/
• Maritimes & Northeast (M&NE)
• http://www.mnpp.com/USA/default.htm
• Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS)
• http://www.pngts.com/
• Iroquois Gas Transmission System (IGTS)
• http://www.iroquois.com/new-internet/igts/index.asp
• Granite State Gas Transmission (GSGT)
• http://www.latec.com/gsgt/

LNG Import Facilities

The Distrigas of Massachusetts LNG terminal in Massachusetts is one of the first major operating import terminals for LNG in the United States and imports gas from other parts of the world where local market needs are much less than the available supply.

• Distrigas of Massachusetts LLC (DOMAC) – owned by Suez Energy North America
• http://www.distrigas.com/

The primary source of LNG supply into New England in recent years comes from the rich gas supply region of Trinidad and Tobago , off the coast of Venezuela . The LNG is transported to New England via large ocean-going tanker ships.

Additionally, there are three new LNG import facilities that will directly impact the northeast natural gas markets in 2009. These projects are either currently operational or will be operational in 2009. These new LNG import facilities are:

• Canaport LNG - Saint John , New Brunswick
• Initial sendout capability of 1 bcf/d, projected completion in mid-2009
• http://www.canaportlng.com/
• Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port LNG – off the coast of Massachusetts
• Sendout capability of 800 mmcf/d, project completed in January 2008
• http://www.excelerateenergy.com/northeast.html
• Neptune LNG, LLC – 10 miles off the coast of Massachusetts
• Sendout capability of 700 mmcf/d, projected completion in 2009
• http://www.suezenergyna.com/ourcompanies/lngna-neptune.shtml

Last updated 2/11/2009