National Grid joining Access Northeast pipeline project

NATIONAL GRID is joining the $3 billion Access Northeast pipeline project to boost natural gas access. / COURTESY ACCESS NORTHEAST
NATIONAL GRID is joining the $3 billion Access Northeast pipeline project to boost natural gas access. / COURTESY ACCESS NORTHEAST

(Updated 3:04 p.m.) PROVIDENCE – National Grid is joining the $3 billion Access Northeast pipeline project to boost natural gas access.
National Grid will be a co-developer of the project, led by Eversource Energy, Spectra Energy and Spectra Energy Partners.
According to a press release from the utility, a lack of sufficient natural gas pipeline infrastructure in New England “is driving electricity prices higher, limiting economic competitiveness and growth, and straining systems to the point where serious reliability issues threaten public safety and security.”
The project will upgrade existing pipeline facilities and market regional storage assets in New England to deliver, on peak days, up to 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas for electric generation markets.
“Once Access Northeast is operational, it is projected to save electric customers an average of $1 billion a year during normal weather conditions and even more during severe cold weather,” Lee Olivier, executive vice president of Enterprise Energy Strategy & Business Development at Eversource, said in a statement. “ICF International has estimated savings during the extreme 2013-2014 winter could have been $2.5 billion with Access Northeast in service.”
John Flynn, senior vice president, U.S. Business Development for National Grid, said the utility’s customers are “literally paying the price for the pipeline constraints we have here in New England.”
“We are joining Access Northeast to lower energy costs for our customers and to help improve and support the region’s economic vitality. This project will play a key role in helping New England achieve a sustainable energy future,” Flynn said.
Stanley J. Blazewicz, National Grid’s vice president of U.S. business development, said the project will reduce the cost of winter electricity prices for customers in New England, a savings that will be seen immediately.
“Customers will see the benefit right away, as soon as the project comes online,” Blazewicz said.
The Access Northeast project is expected to be completed in November 2018.
Access Northeast will enhance the Algonquin and Maritimes pipeline systems, which directly connect to approximately 60 percent of New England’s gas-fired electric generation. The developers also have formed an alliance with Iroquois Gas Transmission, which would bring the number of New England gas-fired generators served to more than 70 percent.
The developers have executed memoranda of understanding with seven electric distribution companies – Eversource’s four electric distribution companies in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, and National Grid’s three electric distribution companies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island – to advance the project.
Staring today, other potential customers, including local gas distribution companies, power generators and other parties, can request additional natural gas capacity as part of the project. The deadline is May 1.

No posts to display