Energy
NTSB Investigates Explosion that Killed 2 at Minnesota School
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were sent to a Minneapolis school Thursday to look into an apparent natural gas explosion and partial building collapse that killed two people and injured at least nine, including one critically. The explosion at Minneha..
Report: Pipeline Review Underestimated Forest Fragmentation
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) – The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation along with several state agencies say an analysis by the Mountain Valley Pipeline on the project’s impact on intact forests underestimated the effects by more than 300 percent. The Roanoke Times reports that in a July 21 fil..
FERC Issues New Natural Gas Project Guidelines
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Energy Projects has finalized its revised Guidelines for Reporting on Cultural Resources Investigations for Natural Gas Projects, which were issued in draft form on January 25, 2017, for comment. The guidelines have been altere..
Natural Gas Council Releases Resilience, Reliability Guide
The Natural Gas Council, which collectively represents companies that produce, transport and deliver clean, affordable natural gas throughout the United States, has released a white paper, “Natural Gas: Reliable and Resilient” highlighting the operational measures, physical characteristics and cont..
Contractor Hits Gas Line, Causes Leak in Massachusetts
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Thousands of people were evacuated from surrounding buildings and streets were closed in Cambridge as authorities responded to reports of a natural gas leak. The Cambridge Fire Department tweeted at 11 a.m. Friday that all buildings could be reoccupied. A spokesma..
Mountain Valley Pipeline Lawsuit Filed
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — A newly filed lawsuit is seeking to stop federal regulators from granting the developers of the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline the power of eminent domain. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Roanoke, Virginia, on behalf of property owners in the pipeline’s pa..
Utility Proposes Five-Year Program to Continue Natural Gas Infrastructure Upgrades
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, today unveiled a proposal for the second phase of its natural gas infrastructure modernization program. If approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the program will allow PSE&G to continue to accelerate..
Report: Violations Occurred During Mariner East 2 Construction
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released details of oversight activities for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline Project, which includes construction violations. Presently, four Notices of Violation have been issued for the project. In addition, one Consent Order and Agree..
Dakota Access Developer’s New Pipeline Rankling Regulators
NEW WASHINGTON, Ohio (AP) — The company that developed the Dakota Access oil pipeline is entangled in another fight, this time in Ohio where work on its multi-state natural gas pipeline has wrecked wetlands, flooded farm fields and flattened a 170-year-old farmhouse. The federal commission that ove..
Regulators Release Environmental Assessment of Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – The Atlantic Coast Pipeline intended to carry natural gas across West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina would have some adverse environmental effects, including impacts on water resources, forest and other habitats, but most could be reduced to insignificant levels, an asses..
Months Needed for Extra Study of Dakota Access Pipeline
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers says additional environmental review of the disputed Dakota Access oil pipeline is likely to take the rest of the year. The federal agency, Texas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners and energy trade groups also are advocating for keepi..
12 New Mechanics Join PECO's NatGas Workforce
PECO yesterday welcomed 12 new apprentice mechanics to the company’s field force as they celebrated their graduation from a comprehensive natural gas training program. The new apprentices, along with 12 mechanics who graduated in April 2017, will join the utility’s front lines – helping to ensure sa..
New Jersey Governor Again Blocks Attempt to Rejoin Environmental Pact
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday again blocked Democratic lawmakers’ attempt to have the state rejoin a regional environmental pact. Christie vetoed a measure approved in the Legislature that would require the state to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, sa..
Regulators Probe Whether Gas Pipeline Buried Deep Enough
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont regulators are investigating whether Vermont Gas Systems failed to bury its new gas pipeline from Colchester to Middlebury deep enough in New Haven. The Vermont Public Utility Commission said Friday that Vermont Gas notified the panel last month that it buried the pip..
Virginia Supreme Court Sides with Pipeline in Survey Lawsuit
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the company developing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in a lawsuit against a woman who sought to keep surveyors off her property. Hazel Palmer owns land in Virginia’s Augusta County along the route of the proposed natural gas pipeli..
Excavator Hits Gas Line, Causes Leak
WARREN, R.I. (AP) — Officials say about 50 people had to be evacuated after a worker hit a main gas line in Rhode Island. Warren Fire Chief Alexander Galinelli says natural gas poured into the air for about two hours after an excavator hit the gas main in Warren Monday. Firefighters went door to d..
PECO Celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day
In celebration of National Lineworker Appreciation Day, PECO is honoring more than 1,094 utility workers who operate and maintain electric and natural gas systems and facilities and respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, often in challenging conditions, and on weekends and holiday..
Coroner: Utility Worker Killed by Debris from Gas Explosion
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A coroner says a utility worker was killed by flying debris when a Pennsylvania house exploded while he was responding to a reported natural gas leak. The National Transportation Safety Board continues to lead the investigation into Sunday afternoon’s blast in Manor Township. ..
Peak Utility Services Group Acquires Kelly Cable
Peak Utility Services Group, a utility services provider serving natural gas, telecom, and electric utility markets in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West regions of the United States, has acquired Kelly Cable of New Mexico. As part of the transaction, Mike Ford, the President of Kelly Cab..
Sabal Trail Pipeline Officially Operational
Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC (Sabal Trail), a joint venture of Spectra Energy Partners, LP NextEra Energy, Inc., and Duke Energy, has placed into commercial service its pipeline system and facilities from Alexander City, Alabama, to the Central Florida Hub in Kissimmee, Florida. “Sabal Trail has s..
Utility Worker Killed in Apparent Gas Explosion Identified
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a utility worker killed in an apparent natural gas explosion that destroyed a Pennsylvania house and injured several other workers over the weekend. The Lancaster County coroner’s office said 54-year-old Richard Bouder, of East Lampeter To..
NTSB Heading Investigation into Fatal Natural Gas Explosion
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into an apparent natural gas explosion that destroyed a Pennsylvania home and killed a utility worker. The UGI Utilities worker was checking out a reported gas odor when the house in Manor Township, near Lan..
129,000 Oil, Gas Lines Identified Near Buildings in Colorado
DENVER (AP) — Colorado has nearly 129,000 underground oil and gas pipelines within about 1,000 feet (300 meters) of occupied buildings, according to energy company reports ordered by the state after a fatal house explosion blamed on a severed gas line. Friday was the deadline for companies to test ..
Louisville Gas and Electric Nearing Completion of 20-year Gas Main Replacement Project
Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) has announced it is completing the final steps in a gas main replacement project in Louisville, Kentucky that began more than two decades ago. As part of the project, LG&E upgraded 540 miles of cast iron, wrought iron and bare steel pipes with more durable..
Application for $3.2 Billion Gas Pipeline Withdrawn
BOSTON (AP) — Two of Massachusetts’ largest utility companies have halted a $3.2 billion natural gas pipeline project, citing funding uncertainty. Pipeline operator Enbridge Inc., a partner in the Access Northeast project along with Eversource and National Grid, informed the Federal Energy Regulato..
$14 Million Pipeline Construction Contract Awarded
Crossfire, LLC has been awarded a $14 million contract from New Mexico Gas Company to reroute approximately six miles of natural gas pipeline in the Río Grande Gorge along State Road 68. The project consists of replacing 8-inch-diameter natural gas pipe with a larger 12-inch-diameter pipe to accomm..
API Releases 50-State Analysis Of Natural Gas Benefits
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a new study on the benefits natural gas brings to the nation in terms of consumer savings, family-sustaining jobs and economic growth. The study shows that all 50 states benefit from natural gas produced domestically, including non-producing states..
Application for PennEast Pipeline Closed Over Deficiencies
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey regulators have closed an application for a more than $1 billion natural gas pipeline starting in Pennsylvania and ending in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said Wednesday in a letter to PennEast that its request for a 60-day extensi..
2 Dead, 3 Injured After Indiana House Explosion
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Firefighters found two bodies in the basement of a southwest Indiana house after it was destroyed by an explosion and fire Tuesday that also injured three people. Searchers located the first body amid the rubble about four hours after the explosion was reported around 8:45 a..
Mountain Valley Review Finds Limited Environmental Impacts
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — An environmental assessment of the proposed Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline finds the project would have “significant” impacts on forests in Virginia and West Virginia but “limited” other adverse effects. The analysis was published Friday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Co..
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds