Greetings from the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG)

Hello,

Welcome to the Winter 2011 edition of the LNG Industry Insider, a quarterly media newsletter brought to you by the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG). In this ever-evolving energy climate, we hope this newsletter will serve as a valuable resource for journalists to stay informed about the trends, milestones, and pivotal developments of the LNG industry.

In this issue we'll learn more about America's first terminal to reach a milestone of 1,000 LNG cargo deliveries, a brand new LNG/CNG refueling station helping clean up the air in the Northeastern corridor, a guest article about the nation's LNG export opportunity, and more.

For more information about this newsletter or LNG, please visit www.lngfacts.org or call us at (202) 289-2253.

Sincerely,
Bill Cooper
President, Center for Liquefied Natural Gas

GDF SUEZ employees greet the officers of the GDF SUEZ Matthew on Dec. 20. (Photo courtesy of GDF SUEZ.)

Distrigas of Massachusetts Celebrates its 1,000th LNG Delivery

In continuous operation since 1971, Distrigas of Massachusetts recently became the first U.S. LNG import facility to import 1,000 liquefied natural gas cargos.

The facility, a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ Gas NA, is located just north of Boston, in Everett, Massachusetts. The GDF SUEZ Matthew vessel had the honor of making the milestone delivery.

“We are pleased to say that the Everett Terminal has grown into a cornerstone of New England’s natural gas supply, meeting approximately 20 percent of the region’s natural gas demand each year, and ultimately about 40 percent of demand on peak days,” said Clay Harris, President and CEO of GDF SUEZ Gas NA. [MORE]

The LNG Export Opportunity

Guest Article for the LNG Industry Insider
By Keith Little, Freeport LNG

Because of breakthroughs in shale gas exploration and development, the U.S. has an opportunity to export LNG and to create thousands of jobs in the process. An efficient method is installing LNG liquefaction facilities at existing LNG import terminals and utilizing the dock, storage and other equipment already in place there. Liquefaction technology is well proven, and dozens of such facilities operate safely and reliably around the world.

Two operators, Freeport LNG and Cheniere Energy, have already filed applications with the Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to initiate the permitting process for liquefaction facilities.  The Freeport LNG facilities would include up to four refrigeration trains capable of liquefying an aggregate of 1.4 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas.  The facilities would cost in excess of $2 billion and could begin operation in early 2015. [MORE]

First LNG Refueling Station Opens East of the Mississippi River

Thanks to a new joint liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas refueling station, residents,  commuters and fleet owners along the Northeast’s Interstate 95 corridor will be breathing cleaner air.

On Dec. 10, Enviro Express Natural Gas, LLC opened the first LNG refueling station east of the Mississippi River in Bridgeport, Connecticut, adjacent to the busy thoroughfare. The station provides public-access LNG and CNG fueling services.  Immediately, Enviro Express Natural Gas will fuel its own new commercial fleet of 18 Kenworth T800 semi tractor-trailers and provide CNG to public customers.

The waste collection and transport company will use the fleet to haul ash and other refuse from Bridgeport to Putnam, Connecticut, a 110-mile trip. Distrigas of Massachusetts, a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ, is one of the station’s LNG suppliers. [MORE]

U.S. and Europe LNG Siting Considerations Examined

Frank Licari, a staff engineer at the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and David Weimer, a principal consultant with Det Norske Veritas (USA), Inc. (DNV), recently studied different perspectives between the United States and Europe regarding siting LNG terminals.  The two co-authored the paper entitled “Risk-Based Siting Considerations for LNG Terminals – Comparative Perspectives of the United States & Europe.”

In their paper, Licari and Weimar noted  significantly different methodologies that Europe and the U.S. take in siting LNG terminals. They found that Europe follows a performance approach, while the U.S. uses a prescriptive approach.  According to their report, “The performance based approach provides the industry the opportunity to apply their knowledge, ingenuity and experience to achieve compliance.  The U.S. approach applies the philosophy that if the means to a goal are established by regulation then the prescribed means will be implemented, the desired outcome will be assured, and the goal will be met.” [MORE]

A participant receives a basket of health food options as part of the BG Be Fit program. (Photo courtesy of BG Group.)

BG Americas and Global LNG Helping Kids Fight Obesity

CLNG is proud to recognize BG Group for its positive efforts on behalf of the community through the “BG Be Fit” program, which is helping hundreds of kids in Houston, Texas live healthier lives.

With 36 percent of children in Houston considered obese, BG Group has partnered with Texas Children’s Hospital to create a non-profit program that makes a healthy difference in the lives of these kids and their families.  The BG Be Fit program is modeled after the United Kingdom’s successful MEND (Mind Energy Nutrition Do It!) program, but lengthened from 10-weeks to 52-weeks.  The longer program is designed to give kids and their families every opportunity to succeed by learning how to live and eat healthier in a sustainable way. [MORE]

LNG "Cool" Fact

Did You Know?

Innovative Companies Turning Waste into Clean LNG for Fueling Garbage Trucks

At a landfill near Livermore, California, landfill gas converted into LNG is being used as fuel to power trash collection vehicles. According to Waste Management and the Linde Group, the companies leading the effort to implement this groundbreaking environmental technology, the plant can produce up to 13,000 gallons of LNG per day from landfill gas, enough fuel for 300 LNG powered collection trucks across 20 California communities. This technology not only turns waste into a clean energy source, but it also benefits the environment due to the significant reduction in fuel emissions produced by the garbage truck fleet.

Source: http://EarthandIndustry.com. Article: Developing Clean Fuels from Landfill Gas, Wes Muir, 11/23/10