ISO New England Concerned About Natural Gas Supplies.(Brief Article)

HOLYOKE, MA--Natural gas pipeline, transport constraints may impact electricity generation in New England as early as the winter of 2003, according to a natural gas pipeline infrastructure and transport study undertaken by ISO New England Inc. in cooperation with Levitan & Associates, a Boston-based energy management consulting firm.

The operator of the region's bulk power grid said the study was performed to address concerns inherent with the growing use of natural gas as a primary fuel source for power plants across New England.

A primary study assumption was that natural gas will be available in sufficient quantities for New England's needs instead, the study focused on the delivery capability of New England's interstate gas pipelines.

Currently those pipelines transport fuel for 23% of the power plants across the region. Within the next five years, gas-fired generation could account for more than 40% of the region's generation, says ISO New England.

Some 1500 megawatts (MW) of new generation has come online in New England over the past two years, with an additional 2000 MW expected through 2001. Currently, power plants totaling more than 6700 MW are under construction throughout the six-state region, all using natural gas as the primary fuel source, according to the power grid operator.

Initial findings from the study include:

* For this winter (2000-01), there were no predicted interstate pipeline transport constraints (or shortfalls in gas requirements to operate power plants) on a peak electricity demand day