FAQs

LNG has a very long safe track record providing natural gas to New England consumers during winters for almost 50 years. The production, storage and transporting of LNG has outstanding safety records and are closely regulated. LNG facilities like the one proposed by RES are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA). More about safety can be found at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/liquid-natural-gas/lng-safety. The RES facility would be inspected by FERC every other year for compliance with engineering and safety standards. The facility would be inspected annually by DOT/PHMSA for compliance with federal safety codes and operations. All LNG facilities undergo frequent inspections to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, industry safety codes, training practices and operational standards. LNG facilities must also comply with security standards issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The Westbrook LNG Project will be designed to meet or exceed PHMSA and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. These standards include requirements that an LNG facility work with local emergency responders in the development of emergency plans and provide designs that prevent any accidents or spills from impacting any areas beyond the plant property. RES will provide assistance to train local First Responders.

The LNG Facility will be a series of small buildings and processing equipment. The most visible structure on the site will be the LNG storage tank. As proposed, the storage tank dimensions will be approximately 180 feet in diameter and 110 feet tall. Based on initial site engineering, most or all the entire facility will be screened by existing trees coverage.

The proposed project site is on a 170-acre parcel of land adjacent to an existing natural gas pipeline. The equipment, storage tank and facilities will be sited on approximately 10-15 acres of land within the 170-acre parcel. The solar farm will be sited on approximately (20) acres of land within the 170-acre parcel. The remaining land will be used as set-backs to maintain proper distancing from adjacent properties.

There will be some noise-generating equipment involved in the liquefaction process such as compressors. This equipment will be housed in buildings to prevent noise levels from impacting the public. The project will follow the required federal and local requirements for proper set-backs and noise levels on the property site.

LNG facilities are designed to contain any release/spill within the plant property. LNG is stored at minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit. As the LNG is warmed, it would become vapor or gaseous. The vapor would mix with the air and dissipate. In the unlikely event of a release/ spill, LNG liquid/vapor would be contained on the project property.

The LNG Facility will include truck loading facilities to allow for liquid LNG to be transported to LNG tanks located in New England. The planned truck loading facilities will accommodate the loading of 2 trucks per hour or 24 over a typical daily 12-hour loading period. In addition, nitrogen will be delivered to the facility when the facility is operating the liquefier which is expected to be from April through October. We expect there to be (XX) trucks per week on average related to nitrogen supply when the liquefier is operating typically from April through October.

The Westbrook LNG Facility will be subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction. FERC is responsible for authorizing the siting and construction of LNG facilities under Section 7 ( c ) of the Natural Gas Act throughout the United States. FERC issues certificates of public convenience and necessity for LNG facilities engaged in interstate natural gas transportation by pipeline. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), the FERC coordinates the preparation of environmental assessments or impact statements for proposed LNG facilities under its jurisdiction.

Projects which are approved and built are subject to FERC oversight for as long as the facility is in operation. In addition to numerous LNG import/export LNG facilities, FERC currently regulates thirteen inland Peak Shaving LNG facilities including (3) LNG facilities in New England.

Prior to commencing construction, The Westbrook LNG Facility will obtain approvals/permits from FERC and applicable other federal, state and local agencies.

The permitting process provides an opportunity for the public to voice concerns, provide feedback and learn more regarding the Project. To the extent possible, this information will be used by the Westbrook LNG Project team to refine the design, incorporating or addressing feedback and concerns.

The Project will require environmental approvals from FERC, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection under the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The minor environmental impacts associated with the operation of the facility are readily mitigated. No chemicals or other pollutants will be discharged into community surface or groundwater. Plant operations are quiet, with lighting kept to a minimum.

LNG facilities have very low environmental emissions. There are very limited air emissions and only rainwater is drained from the site. There are almost no chemicals used in the process, although we do add "odorant" to the gas to give it a smell so that a leak can be detected (in its normal state, natural gas has no smell). The equipment we are proposing to use at the site does not require the use of any hazardous chemicals or toxins. The only substance required for the liquefaction process is nitrogen, a safe element that makes up about 80% of the air we breathe. In addition to the environmentally benign nitrogen refrigeration system, the project will avoid the use of combustion driven compressors and pumps through the use of electric motors to drive equipment related to the liquefaction process.

The Project will obtain renewable electricity from an on-site solar farm. The solar farm will provide approximately (XX) percent of the annual requirements of the liquefaction system. The balance of the Project’s electrical requirements will be received from a connection to the local electric utility.

The land issues that were considered included (but were not limited to) the following:

LOCATION

o Large parcel(s) with undeveloped land.

o Site availability – land available for purchase.

o Proximity to existing infrastructure (pipelines, roads, power, etc.).

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

o No significant presence of sensitive species.

o No significant presence of sensitive ecosystems.

o No significant wetlands on the site.

In response to a Unitil on behalf of Northern Utilities, Inc. (“Northern”) March 2020 RFP for winter peaking supply, RES reviewed various sites in southeast Maine and New Hampshire. The Northern RFP indicated that there was a preference for a site in the Westbrook, ME area to enhance system hydrologically and redundancy in close proximity to the Granite State Gas Transmission pipeline (Granite State) which would provide natural gas supplies to Northern. In addition, Boston Gas expressed interest in obtaining winter peaking supply that could be delivered into northeastern Massachusetts. The Westbrook site provides sufficient acreage to accommodate exclusion zones for an LNG tank up to 2.0 BCF. The location is not in a Class 3 area of high impact and is in close proximity to the Granite State pipeline and adjacent to the Joint Facilities interstate pipeline which is co-owned by Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (MNE) and Portland Natural Gas Transmission Systems (PNGTS). Importantly, the owners of the parcels that comprise the Westbrook site were willing sellers. Based upon these factors, RES determined that the Westbrook 170-acre site was the preferred location for the project.

Yes. The preliminary evaluation of seismic suitability was based on available literature and personal interviews with professional geologists. Before the full development of an LNG Facility, extensive geo-technical and seismic studies would be completed.

As in most of the environmental evaluations at this preliminary site selection stage, archaeology was also investigated primarily on the basis of available literature and interviews with various professionals or academics. In the case of the Preferred Site at Westbrook this type of screening identified the fact that there is a potential that archaeological resources exist within the 170-acre parcel of land. As such, the project will need to conduct on-site investigations to determine the existence of any such resource and the impact, if any, that project development would cause if implemented.

Power Engineers (PE), a respected Maine consulting firm, reviewed federal, state and local sources to identify potential rare plants in the area of the Westbrook site. The results of field survey efforts indicate that there are no endangered species or habitat on the Westbrook site.

During field surveys, PE identified freshwater wetlands totaling (~ 24) acres on the 170-acre site. The Westbrook LNG Project will be sited to minimize the impact to these sensitive environmental areas. The RES team has been very successful at implementing programs in previous project developments to the extent possible, the facility will be placed on the site to minimize impacts to wetlands.

Construction would begin once all required permits are received. RES anticipates the permitting process to take 24 to 30 months to complete.

After final permits and authorization to proceed are received, construction is anticipated to take two (2) years.

There will be about 100 construction jobs over the two (2) year construction period. We believe that about 80% of these jobs will be Maine hires. The Westbrook LNG Project will also create up to ten (10) permanent jobs to operate and maintain the LNG Facility.

Construction activities will primarily occur within the 170 site. The site will be accessed from Methodist RD via an existing service road. The service road will be extended to the project site.

Work will begin with site clearing and grading, followed by the installation of foundations, structural steel, buildings, electrical, piping and other mechanical equipment. Upon completion, the construction area and general surroundings will be cleaned, trees and grass plantings will be established, and site roadways will be surfaced.

Construction practices and noise created by construction activities will meet all local ordinances.

New England based Cashman Preload Cryogenics (CPC) will be overall responsible for the construction of the LNG Facility.

The project will meet or exceed every federal security requirement. These federal requirements consider the latest studies detailing best management practices for maximizing safety and minimizing security risks. The Westbrook Project will work with federal regulators, state and local agencies to ensure that our facility is as safe and secure as it can be.

The site will be staffed 7 days per week on a 24-hour basis.

The LNG Facility will have security fencing and lighting, video monitoring, and an integrated alarm system monitored from a central control/operations building. The areas around the LNG storage tank and processing area are monitored by sensitive electronic devises. If something out of ordinary is detected, they will alert our operators to take appropriate actions or they can automatically shut down the facility’s operation.