On February 4, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its Energy Infrastructure Update for December 2018, which gives the highlights of changes and expansions in the industry.

For natural gas pipelines, five were placed in service, two were certified, and six more were proposed; there were no updates in December for storage facilities or liquified natural gas (LNG) imports of exports. The total number of pipeline projects placed into service in 2018 was 26, which is lower than the 32 in 2017. There were 48 certified in both 2017 and 2018. No storage facilities were placed into service in 2018, and only one was in 2017. There were four storage facilities certified in 2018, compared to only two in 2017. One LNG export was placed into service, compared to three in 2017. There was one import/export facility certified in 2018, and there were none in 2017.

For hydropower, one capacity amendment was filed in December, and another hydropower facility was licensed. In 2018, two facilities files for 10-MW Exemption and three filed for capacity amendments. Only one license was issued last year, and one capacity amendment was issued. Two licenses were placed in service in 2018.

In December, no new coal facilities were put into service, and only four were put in service in 2018; three were put in service in 2017. Seven new natural gas facilities were put in service, and 103 were opened in 2018; this is compared to the 106 put in service in 2017. No nuclear facilities opened in December, but five opened last year; only one opened in 2017. No oil facilities opened in December either, but 14 opened in 2018, compared to the 37 opened in 2017. No hydropower facilities opened either, but 10 opened in 2018; 14 opened in 2017. Twelve wind power facilities opened in December, 55 opened in 2018; 83 opened in 2017. No biomass facilities opened in December, but 13 opened last year; 27 opened in 2017. Two geothermal steam facilities opened, half of the four that opened last year; only two opened in 2017. There were 15 solar facilities opened in December, and 429 total in 2018; in 2017 750 opened.

There were a number of suggestions for additions and retirements to take place by January 2022. One coal addition was suggested, and 57 retirements. For natural gas, 276 additions were suggested and only 94 retirements. There were 11 additions suggested for nuclear power, and nine retirements. Seventeen oil additions and 24 retirements were suggested. For hydropower, 237 additions and 20 retirements were suggested. There were 530 wind additions and no retirements suggested. There were 53 biomass additions and 29 retirements recommended. For geothermal steam, 19 additions and no retirements were suggested. Solar power saw the largest recommended additions with 2,278 and only five retirements.

In December, 20.2 miles of electric transmission projects of less than 230 volts were completed, compared to 54 miles of in December 2017. That same voltage has 327.3 miles in all of 2018, compared to 329.3 in 2017. For voltages of 345, there were 161.8 miles completed in December, compared to 32.5 miles in December 2017. In all of 2018, 714.5 miles were completed, compared to 363.1 miles in 2017. For 500 voltage, there was none in December, only 69.4 miles in 2018; there were no miles completed in 2018. In total, 182 miles were completed in December, compared to 86.5 miles in December 2017. In all of 2018, a total of 1,111.2 miles completed; 692.4 miles were completed in 2017.

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