The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its regular Energy Infrastructure Update for October 2019. This update covers the news and highlights for energy around the country, in gas, hydropower, and electric generation.

In October three new natural gas pipelines were certified, and there were proposals for two more; bringing the total new pipelines in the year up to nine, and 28 total were certified. This is compared to 17 and 44 from 2018, respectively. There were no new LNG storage or import/export facilities in October.

For hydropower in October, one capacity amendment was filed, bringing the total capacity amendments filed in the year up to five total. There was no other activity reported.

The electric generation highlights detailed the new and expanded units in October, plus the year to date, and a comparison of this period in 2018. There was one new LNG unit placed in service, bringing the year’s total to 77, compared to 101 in 2018. Two new wind generation facilities were placed into service, bringing the total up to 31 for the year, compared to 43 last year. There was one new biomass facility, bringing the year’s total to eight, compared to 13 the year before. October saw the first geothermal steam until of the year, compared to seven in 2018. Eight new solar powered units were placed in service, bringing the total for the year up to 334, compared to 486 the previous year. There were no new coal, nuclear, oil, or hydropower units placed in service in October.

There were a number of proposed additions and retirements of generation units in October, all planned to occur by October 2022. There was one proposed addition for coal, and 50 retirements. Natural gas had 220 proposed additions, 101 are under construction, and 102 proposed retirements. Nuclear power had six proposed additions, one of which is under construction, and six proposed retirements. There were 11 additions for oil, one of which is under construction, and 16 retirements. Hydropower had 226 additions, 90 of which are under construction, and 12 retirements. Wind power had 527 additions proposed, 187 under construction, and three retirements. There were 48 additions proposed for biomass, 21 are under construction, and 28 retirements. Geothermal steam had 14 additions, four are under construction, and no retirements proposed. Solar power had the most proposed additions at 2,669, with 655 under construction, and only one retirement.

For electric transmissions, in the ≤230 voltage range, there were 61.7 miles completed in October, compared to 69 the year before. This brings the total for that voltage up to 184.6 for the year, compared to 521.5 for 2018; there are 533.8 miles planned by November 2021. In the 345-voltage range, 26 miles were completed, compared to 114 the previous year; the total for the year reached 397.5 miles, compared to 847.2 in 2018, with another 701.4 planned. There is nothing new in the 500-voltage range.

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