Con Edison looks ahead to ease moratorium
Con Edison may have found a way to increase the supply of natural gas and lift a gas hookup moratorium implemented because of capacity limitations.
The company already relies on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline to bring natural gas from the Gulf Coast to Westchester County, the county north of New York City, where Con Edison stopped accepting applications for new gas hookups in March. Under an agreement, the owners of TGP will upgrade compression facilities on its system outside New York state to increase supplies to Westchester.
“The conventional solution has been to construct new pipelines to bring more gas to constrained areas such as our Westchester service area, but it has become difficult to get those projects approved,” said Allan Drury, spokesman for Con Edison. “This project will enhance the capability of the existing pipelines to transport more natural gas without having to build additional pipelines.”
While the TGP deal would provide some much-needed relief for Westchester County, work remains. “Approvals have to be secured and construction must take place so the upgrades can go into effect in 2023, which is when we might be able to lift the moratorium,” Drury said.
In the meantime, Con Edison continues its efforts to advance renewables, alternative technologies and other solutions to supplement the county’s natural gas capacity. In addition to making it possible for Con Edison to lift the moratorium, the TGP project will provide time to develop renewable alternatives and help customers transition to alternative technologies for their heating and cooking needs.
“This project offers a reasonable, sensible approach to allow an orderly transition to the renewable energy future we all desire,” said Tim Cawley, president of Con Edison. “The solution provides the time needed to improve non-pipeline technology and make it widely available. The additional natural gas capacity will continue to support economic growth in our region while reducing reliance on heating oil and the need for locally delivered compressed and liquid natural gas.”
Demand for natural gas in New York City and Westchester County has grown significantly in recent years thanks to conversions of heating systems from oil and because of economic growth, with developers preferring natural gas in new buildings.