As we look to the future, there are increasing concerns about the power grid here in New England.Mainers are already seeing higher power prices on their bills this winter due, in part, to limited natural gas in the region.On a cold January day, the international cargo ship Cadiz Knutsen was seen in Boston Harbor delivering a load of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the New England grid.The extra fuel is needed to help make power for heating and cooling during periods of extreme weather.”We’re putting a Band-Aid on the problem,” Maine Public Advocate Bill Harwood said.Harwood said the problem is caused by limited natural gas pipeline capacity as the pipelines to New England can’t carry enough natural gas for both home heat and electricity generation.About half of our electricity comes from burning natural gas.”We’ve had these big LNG ships come in from overseas into Everett, Massachusetts, and they inject the gas into the system in Everett to bypass the pipeline from Pennsylvania,” he explained.Federal data show that LNG imports can make up more than a third of the region’s natural gas supply during periods of peak demand.”It’s really a New England issue. New England is at the end of the pipelines,” said Matt Kakley with grid operator ISO New England.LNG prices spiked due to the war in Ukraine and demand from Europe.It’s one reason why your power bill is so much higher this winter.”You’ve got too little supply chasing demand and what happens is the price goes through the roof,” Harwood said.Because the weather is the biggest driver of electricity usage, Kakley explained, as gas supplies tighten, weather extremes could trigger the need for rolling blackouts.”A controlled power outage occurs when there’s not enough electricity supply to meet consumer demand,” he said.There have been calls and proposals to expand pipeline capacity.In a November 2022 letter, The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America called on President Biden to address “a lack of adequate natural gas infrastructure” in New England.However, opponents argue that’s bad for the environment and a barrier to a clean energy future.”It is very difficult, when it comes to natural gas, to expand pipeline capacity into the region. There are a number of regional and local challenges to doing that, so we will be reliant on liquefied natural gas for some time,” Jared Chicoine, NH Commissioner of Energy, said.Governor Janet Mills (D-Maine) said Maine is over-reliant on natural gas to generate electricity.”We’ve got to get ourselves off natural gas,” Harwood said. “This is crazy.”Mills said long-term solutions are needed, including more efficient heating and cooling technologies and weatherizing homes.
As we look to the future, there are increasing concerns about the power grid here in New England.
Mainers are already seeing higher power prices on their bills this winter due, in part, to limited natural gas in the region.
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On a cold January day, the international cargo ship Cadiz Knutsen was seen in Boston Harbor delivering a load of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the New England grid.
The extra fuel is needed to help make power for heating and cooling during periods of extreme weather.
“We’re putting a Band-Aid on the problem,” Maine Public Advocate Bill Harwood said.
Harwood said the problem is caused by limited natural gas pipeline capacity as the pipelines to New England can’t carry enough natural gas for both home heat and electricity generation.
About half of our electricity comes from burning natural gas.
“We’ve had these big LNG ships come in from overseas into Everett, Massachusetts, and they inject the gas into the system in Everett to bypass the pipeline from Pennsylvania,” he explained.
Federal data show that LNG imports can make up more than a third of the region’s natural gas supply during periods of peak demand.
“It’s really a New England issue. New England is at the end of the pipelines,” said Matt Kakley with grid operator ISO New England.
LNG prices spiked due to the war in Ukraine and demand from Europe.
It’s one reason why your power bill is so much higher this winter.
“You’ve got too little supply chasing demand and what happens is the price goes through the roof,” Harwood said.
Because the weather is the biggest driver of electricity usage, Kakley explained, as gas supplies tighten, weather extremes could trigger the need for rolling blackouts.
“A controlled power outage occurs when there’s not enough electricity supply to meet consumer demand,” he said.
There have been calls and proposals to expand pipeline capacity.
In a November 2022 letter, The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America called on President Biden to address “a lack of adequate natural gas infrastructure” in New England.
However, opponents argue that’s bad for the environment and a barrier to a clean energy future.
“It is very difficult, when it comes to natural gas, to expand pipeline capacity into the region. There are a number of regional and local challenges to doing that, so we will be reliant on liquefied natural gas for some time,” Jared Chicoine, NH Commissioner of Energy, said.
Governor Janet Mills (D-Maine) said Maine is over-reliant on natural gas to generate electricity.
“We’ve got to get ourselves off natural gas,” Harwood said. “This is crazy.”
Mills said long-term solutions are needed, including more efficient heating and cooling technologies and weatherizing homes.
