Office of Energy Projects 

Energy Infrastructure Update 

For March 2011 

Page 1 of 5 

Natural Gas Highlights 

 Golden Pass placed into service its LNG terminal (Phase I facilities) near Sabine Pass, Texas, and the associated 

pipeline necessary to transport 1,000 MMcf/d of the terminal’s sendout capacity. 

 Florida Gas placed into service the last remaining facilities of its Phase VIII Expansion Project which will increase the 

firm transportation capacity of Florida Gas’s system in Florida by 820 MMcf/d. 

 Magnum Gas (Utah) and Tallulah Gas (Louisiana) each received authorization to construct and operate salt cavern 

and salt dome storage facilities with working gas capacities of 42 Bcf and 24 Bcf, respectively. 

 National Fuel and Tennessee have filed to construct and operate facilities related to their respective Northern Access 

and Station 230C Projects which will provide a total of 320 MMcf/d of capacity for transportation from existing 

interconnections in Pennsylvania. 

 Gas Transmission Northwest filed a request to begin the pre-filing process for a proposed 25 mile lateral to transport 

219.1 MMcf/d to Portland General Electric’s proposed Carty Generating Station located in Morrow County, Oregon. 

 

Natural Gas Activities in March 2011 

Status No. of 

Projects 

Storage 

Capacity 

(Bcf) 

Deliverability 

(MMcf/d) 

Capacity 

(MMcf/d) 

Miles of 

Pipeline 

Compression 

(HP) 

Pipeline 

Placed in Service 3 3,355.0 596.2 234,100 

Certificated 0 0.0 0 0 

Proposed 5 1,175.1 64.7 78,780 

Storage 

Placed in Service 1 8.0 2,500 0 

Certificated 3 68.0 2,115 47,210 

Proposed 1 5.0 0 0 

LNG 

Placed in Service 1 9.84 1,000 0 

Certificated 0 0 0 0 

Proposed 0 0 0 0 

 Source: Staff Database 

Natural Gas Activities through March 31, 2011 

Through March 31, 2010 

Status No. of 

Projects 

Storage 

Capacity 

(Bcf) 

Deliverability 

(MMcf/d) 

Capacity 

(MMcf/d) 

Miles of 

Pipeline 

Compression 

(HP) 

Pipeline 

Placed in Service 

through March 31, 2010 

6 

6 

4,805.0 

4,046.7 

639.5 

208.8 

336,530 

80,815 

Certificated 

through March 31, 2010 

2 

5 

688.0 

1,302.5 

20.5 

3.4 

59,265 

90,575 

Storage 

Placed in Service 

through March 31, 2010 

1 

1 

8.0 

2.1 

2,500 

0 

0 

0 

Certificated 

through March 31, 2010 

3 

4 

68.0 

31.7 

2,115 

600 

47,210 

9,500 

LNG 

Placed in Service 

through March 31, 2010 

1 

0 

9.84 

0 

1,000 

0 

0 

0 

Certificated 

through March 31, 2010 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

 Source: Staff Database 
Office of Energy Projects 

Energy Infrastructure Update 

For March 2011 

Page 2 of 5 

Hydropower Highlights 

 On March 1, 2011, the City of Logan, Utah began commercial generation at its DeWitt Pipeline Project, FERC Project 

No. 13820. 

 On March 4, 2011, an original 50-year license was issued to Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Company, LLC for its 

proposed 6.0 MW Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Project No. 12555 which would be constructed at the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers Mahoning dam located on Mahoning Creek in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The license 

requires: (1) a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan; (2) a water quality monitoring plan; (3) an intake structure 

design plan; (4) a wetland protection plan; (5) a recreation and aesthetics plan; and (6) a historic properties 

management plan. 

 On March 9, 2011, Crane & Company filed an application for a small hydropower exemption for the proposed 

0.250 MW Byron Weston Hydroelectric Project No.13583. The proposed project would be located at the existing 

Byron Weston Dam No. 2 on the East Branch of the Housatonic River in the Town of Dalton, Berkshire County, 

Massachusetts. 

 On March 11, 2011, the City of Watervliet filed an application for a small hydropower exemption for the proposed 

5 MW Delta Hydroelectric Project No. 13135-001. The proposed project would be located at the existing New York 

State Canal Corporation-owned Delta Dam on the East Branch of the Mohawk River in the Town of Rome, Oneida 

County, New York. 

 On March 16, 2011 the FERC Atlanta Regional Office was notified that FERC Project No 7630 Whittles Mill Dam 

(Exemption) began operation the 0.065 MW generator. Initial operations began in January 2011 Total authorized 

generation is 0.175 MW and the exemptee is evaluating the restoration of the second unit at this time. 

 On March 17, 2011, the Commission issued an Order Amending Conduit Exemption that increased the authorized 

capacity from 0.070 to 0.0941 MW for the Maxwell Powerhouse, which is part of the Maxwell Project, FERC Project 

No. 7564. 

 On March 17, 2011, the Commission issued an Order Amending Conduit Exemption that increased the authorized 

capacity from 0.750 to 0.800 MW for the Sunshine Powerhouse, which is part of the Sunshine Project, FERC Project 

No. 9078. 

Hydropower Activities in March 2011 

Conventional Pumped Storage Hydrokinetic

Status

No. Capacity 

(MW) No. Capacity (MW) No. Capacity (MW) 

Total No. 

of Projects

Total 

Capacity 

(MW)

Filed 

License 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

5-MW Exemption 2 0.750 0 0 0 0 2 0.750 

Capacity Amendment 1 0.820 0 0 0 0 1 0.820 

Conduit Exemption 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Issued 

License 1 6.000 0 0 0 0 1 6.000 

5-MW Exemption 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Capacity Amendment 2 0.074 0 0 0 0 2 0.074 

Conduit Exemption 1 0.150 0 0 0 0 1 0.150 

Placed in Service 

License 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

5-MW Exemption 1 0.065 0 0 0 0 1 0.065 

Capacity Amendment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Conduit Exemption 1 0.200 0 0 0 0 1 0.200 

 Source: Staff Database
Office of Energy Projects 

Energy Infrastructure Update 

For March 2011 

Page 3 of 5 

Hydropower Activities Year to Date (through March 31, 2011) 

Conventional Pumped Storage Hydrokinetic

Status

No. Capacity 

(MW) No. Capacity (MW) No. Capacity (MW) 

Total No. 

of Projects

Total 

Capacity 

(MW)

Filed 

License 1 0.0225 0 0 0 0 1 0.0225 

5-MW Exemption 5 1.846 0 0 0 0 5 1.846 

Capacity Amendment 2 3.370 0 0 0 0 2 3.370 

Conduit Exemption 1 0.075 0 0 0 0 1 0.075 

Issued 

License 1 6.000 0 0 0 0 1 6.000 

5-MW Exemption 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Capacity Amendment 6 12.618 0 0 0 0 6 12.618 

Conduit Exemption 2 0.350 0 0 0 0 2 0.350 

Placed in Service 

License 1 0.300 0 0 0 0 1 0.300 

5-MW Exemption 1 0.065 0 0 0 0 1 0.065 

Capacity Amendment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Conduit Exemption 3 1.340 0 0 0 0 3 1.340 

 Source: Staff Database 

Electric Generation Highlights 

 Xtreme Power officially announced the commissioning of a 15-W energy storage system integrated with the 30-MW 

Kahuku Wind project on Oahu, Hawaii. This is the first renewable energy project completed under the DOE’s loan 

guarantee program. This system operates in realtime to offset instantaneous power changes, and to turn wind power 

from a variable supply to a more flexible and reliable power source. The system can firm renewable, store power 

when it is not needed and provide other ancillary services. 

 Calpine Corporation’s York Energy Center in Peach Bottom Township, Pennsylvania came online three months ahead 

of schedule and under its project budget. The 565-MW natural gas-fired plant produces enough power to serve 

450,000 residential customers. 

 Xcel Energy’s Greater Sandhill Solar power plant came online. The 19-MW photovoltaic plant in Alamosa County, 

Colorado generates electricity to serve 5,000 homes. The plant uses SunPower Tracker systems, which generate up 

to 25 percent more energy than conventional systems while reducing land-use requirements. The SunPower 

Trackers tilt toward the sun as it moves across the sky, increasing energy capture. 

 Ford-DTE Energy 0.5-MW solar power generation systems at the Michigan Assembly Plant came online in March 

2011, delivering renewable energy to power the production of fuel-efficient small cars. The solar facility is integrated 

with a 0.75-MW energy storage facility that stores 2 MWh of energy using batteries large enough to power 100 

homes. 
Office of Energy Projects 

Energy Infrastructure Update 

For March 2011 

Page 4 of 5 

Electric Transmission Highlights 

 On March 24, Dominion Resources Inc. announced plans to spend more than $1.7 billion over a two-year period to 

strengthen its electric grid. The $1.7 billion for reliability projects is part of $7.4 billion in infrastructure expansions and 

improvements announced earlier by the company. The reliability improvement projects started in 2010 and are 

expected to be complete in 2011. 

 In March, the Bonneville Power Administration announced plans to build 38 mile, 500-kV transmission line. The 

project is estimated to cost $99 million. It will connect a new substation near the Port of Central Ferry in Garfield 

County, Wash., to the existing Lower Monumental substation in Walla Walla County, Washington. 

 NV Energy and Great Basin Transmission South LLC received permission from the Bureau of Land Management to 

build the One Nevada Transmission Line, or On Line. On Line is a 236 mile, 500 kV transmission line is that will 

connect north of Las Vegas to Ely. The new line is expected to provide better access to northern Nevada geothermal 

energy and southern Nevada solar energy after it is completed in January 2013. 

March 2011 January – March 2011 

Cumulative 

January – March 2010 

Cumulative 

Primary Fuel Type No. of 

Units 

Installed Capacity 

(MW) 

No. of 

Units 

Installed Capacity 

(MW) 

No. of 

Units 

Installed Capacity 

(MW) 

Coal 0 0 3 615 6 1,323 

Natural Gas 2 559 9 711 28 1,872 

Nuclear 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Oil 0 0 0 0 2 4 

Water 0 0 4 1 1 1 

Wind 6 350 29 1,081 20 430 

Biomass 1 2 18 41 31 77 

Geothermal Steam 0 0 1 8 0 0 

Solar 9 37 33 105 6 6 

Waste Heat 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Other 2 0 7 20 0 0 

Total 20 948 104 2,581 94 3,713 

New Generation In-Service (New Build and Expansion)

Source: Data derived from Ventyx Global LLC, Velocity Suite. 

Total Installed Operating Generation Capacity 

Primary Fuel Type Installed Capacity (GW) % of Total Capacity 

Coal 344.61 30.36% 

Natural Gas 469.21 41.33% 

Nuclear 108.52 9.56% 

Oil 52.83 4.65% 

Water 99.06 8.73% 

Wind 41.18 3.63% 

Biomass 13.37 1.18% 

Geothermal Steam 3.37 0.30% 

Solar 1.24 0.11% 

Waste Heat 0.82 0.07% 

Other 1.04 0.09% 

Total 1,135.25 100.00% 

Source: Data derived from Ventyx Global LLC, Velocity Suite. 
Office of Energy Projects 

Energy Infrastructure Update 

For March 2011 

Page 5 of 5 

 Dominion Virginia Power announced plans to study the possibility of an offshore electric transmission line to support 

wind farm development. The study will look at what it would take to build a high-voltage underwater line from Virginia 

Beach into the Atlantic Ocean. 

 The Atlantic Wind Connection filed the first-ever unsolicited right-of-way application with the Department of Interior’s 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the use of certain areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 

to construct an offshore transmission system. The $5 billion, 300 mile underwater transmission project will include a 

200-foot-wide right of way about 10 miles to 18 miles offshore. The project is expected to start construction in 2013 

and be completed in 2021. 

Transmission Projects Completed Proposed Transmission Projects 

In-Service by March 2013 

March 2011 March 2010 High Probability of 

Completion All Voltage (kV) 

Line Length (miles) 

≤230 0 94.6 3,968.5 6,638.9 

345 0 227.1 2,743.5 4,481.6 

500 0 0 1,688.6 4,978.3 

765 0 0 0 0 

Total U.S. 0 321.7 8,400.6 16,098.8 

Projected Investment Cost of 

Transmission Projects with a Proposed 

In-Service Date by March 2013 

Transmission Projects with a Proposed 

In-Service Date by March 2013 

Transmission Projects Completed in 

March of 2010 and 2011 

Sources: Data derived from Staff Database and U.S. Electric Transmission Projects ©2011 The C-Three Group, LLC 

Disclaimer: This Report contains analyses, presentations and conclusions that may be based on or derived from the data sources cited, but do not 

necessarily reflect the positions or recommendations of the data providers.