On June 7, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released their Energy Infrastructure Update for April, related to natural gas and hydropower, and covering the highlights for electric generation and transmissions.

In April, six new pipeline projects were certified and another one was proposed. Two Liquefied natural gas (LNG) import/export projects were certified.

In the year thus far, a total of four pipeline projects have been placed into service, compared to three in the same period in 2018; 13 more have been certified, compared to 19 at this time last year. One LNG storage facility has been certified, compared to three last year.

For LNG imports and exports, two exports have been placed in service this year, compared to one in 2018; four import/exports have been certified this year, compared to none at this point in 2018.

For hydropower, one license was filed in April, and that is the only activity in April. Another two facilities have filed capacity amendments in this year so far.

In April there were no new coal facilities, as there have been for all of 2019 to that point; there were four at this time in 2018.

There was one new natural gas unit, making 22 for the year to date; there were 26 at this time in 2018. There has been nothing new for nuclear power this year; there were three at this point last year. One new oil facility was added in April, making it a total of three for the year; compared to 10 from this time last year. There were no hydropower units added, but there have been four this year; compared to six last year. There was one wind power unit added, making it a total of 18 this year; compared to 17 last year. There have been no new biomass units added this year, compared to five last year. There have been no new geothermal steam units added this year either, and only two were added in this period last year. Four new solar powered units were added in April, making a total of 102 this year; compared to 213 at this time last year.

There were many proposed additions and retirements in April, to be done by May 2022. There were two proposed additions for coal, both are considered highly probable, and 50 proposed retirements. There were 226 proposed additions for natural gas, 110 are highly probable, and 109 units were proposed retired. Nuclear power had 11 additions proposed, three are highly probable, and eight proposed retirements. There were 11 additions for oil, 11 are highly probable, and there were 26 retirements. Hydropower had 224 additions, 82 highly probable, and 19 retirements. There were 543 additions for wind, 140 highly probable, and one retirement. There were 64 biomass additions, 29 highly probable, and 30 retirements. There were 18 geothermal steam additions, six highly probable, and no proposed retirements. Solar power had 2,510 additions proposed, 527 highly probable, and one retirement.

For electric transmissions, in the ≤230 range, 71 miles of line was laid in April, making a total of 91 this year; compared to April 2018 with 11 miles of line and a total of 392.3 in all of 2018. There were 1,748 miles of line proposed to be put in service by May 2021, and 532.1 were highly probable. In the 345 voltage, four miles of line were completed, making a total of 169 this year; there were 70 in April 2018, and 819.3 in all of 2018. There were 2,712 miles proposed, 1,067 considered highly probable. In the 500-voltage range, there were none laid in April, of this year or last, and only a total of 7.4 miles in 2019 this year total, and 69.4 in 2018; 1,662 miles were proposed additions, 738 of which are highly probable. A total of 75 miles were laid in April, close to the 81 in 2018; there have been 267.4 miles this year so far, compared to 1,281 in 2018. A total of 6,122 miles have been proposed, and 2,337.1 are considered highly probable.

• Uncategorized