The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its Energy Infrastructure Update for May, which is related to hydropower and natural gas, and it covers the highlights of electric generation and transmissions.
In May, one natural gas pipeline was placed into service, another two were certified, and five more were proposed. One natural gas storage facility was proposed.
Thus far this year, a total of five pipelines have been placed into service, compared to four by this point last year. There have been 14 pipeline projects certified this year, compared to 25 last year. No storage facilities have been placed into service this year, and there were none last year in this timeframe either. One storage facility has been certified this year, compared to three last year. Two LNG export projects have been placed into service this year, compared to only one last year. Four LNG import/export projects have been certified this year, compared to none last year.
For nonfederal hydropower, there was one capacity amendment in May. This year, one hydropower project has filed for a license, and two capacity amendments have been filed. One license has been issued, and only one capacity amendment has been issued.
There were no new coal facilities in May, nor have there been all year; at this point last year there were four. There was one natural gas facility in May, bringing the year to date total to 34; there were 44 last year. No nuclear power facilities were added in May, only one has been placed into service this year; there were three at this point last year. Four new oil facilities were opened in May, bringing this year’s total to nine; there were 13 last year. No new hydropower facilities were added, and only four have been placed into service this year; there were eight last year. One wind power facility was added, bringing the total for the year up to 20, beating the 18 added last year. There continues to be no biomass and geothermal steam facilities opened this year; there were 12 for biomass last year, and three for geothermal steam. Six more solar power facilities were added, making the total for the year 131; last year there were 264 at this point.
There were a number of proposed additions and retirements in May, all of which are expected by June 2022. One additional coal facility was proposed, and it is considered high probability; 57 retirements were proposed. There were 222 additions for natural gas, 107 of which are considered high probability; 108 retirements were proposed. Nine additional nuclear power facilities were proposed, one of which is a high probability; eight retirements were proposed. Oil had 17 proposed additions, six of which are high probability; 21 units were proposed for retirement. Hydropower had 217 additions, 84 are highly probable; there were 19 retirements. Wind power had 536 additions, 160 are high probability; only one retirement was proposed. There were 61 biomass additions, 27 are highly probable; 32 retirements are proposed. Geothermal steam had 18 additions, six are highly probable; no retirements were proposed. Solar power had 2,528 additions proposed, 530 of them are considered high probability; only one retirement was proposed.
For electric transmissions, in the ≤230 range, 18 miles of line was completed in May, which brings this year’s total up to 109 miles; compared to 8.4 miles completed in May 2018, and 392.3 at this point in 2018. There were 1,564 miles proposed to be placed into service by June 2021, 454.3 are considered highly probable. There were not any lines completed in May in the 345 range, 169 miles have been completed this year; this is compared to eight miles last May, and 819.3 for the year to date. For proposed projects for June 2021, 2,404.4 miles were proposed, and 915.4 miles are considered highly probable. In the 500 range, there was not any line completed in May of this year or last year. This year so far, 7.4 miles have been completed, compared to 69.4 miles last year. There were 1,816 miles proposed to be added, and 813 miles of it are high probability. In total, 18 miles have been completed in May of this year; 16.4 miles were completed last May. A total of 285.4 miles have been completed this year, compared to 1,281 last year. For the proposed additions for June 2021, a total of 5,784.4 miles have been proposed, and 2,182.7 miles are considered high probability.
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