CANADIAN GAS FUELS RHODE ISLAND POWER PLANT

Western Canadian gas producers have gained a new export market with commercial start-up of Phase I of the Ocean State electric power generating plant in Rhode Island. The plant is a joint venture in which TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. owns a major interest. Phase I of the $460 million plant at Burrillville, R.I., near the Massachusetts state line, went into production last Dec. 31. During acceptance tests, the plant exceeded its guaranteed power output of 250,000 kw and its heat efficiency rating.

Jan. 14, 1991

3 min read

Western Canadian gas producers have gained a new export market with commercial start-up of Phase I of the Ocean State electric power generating plant in Rhode Island.

The plant is a joint venture in which TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. owns a major interest.

Phase I of the $460 million plant at Burrillville, R.I., near the Massachusetts state line, went into production last Dec. 31. During acceptance tests, the plant exceeded its guaranteed power output of 250,000 kw and its heat efficiency rating.

When Phase 11 of Ocean State goes on line next fall, power capacity will be 500,000 kw and plant consumption of western Canadian gas will be 100 MMcfd. It is the first power plant in New England to burn Canadian gas exclusively.

GAS SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

Natural gas requirements for the project are supplied under long term contracts with ProGas Ltd. and Western Gas Marketing Ltd., both of Calgary. ProGas holds the supply contract for Phase I, and the two companies equally share supply contracts for Phase II.

The gas is exported from Canada at Niagara Falls. Nova Corp. transports the gas in Alberta, TransCanada moves it from the Alberta border to the U.S. border, and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. moves it from the U.S. border to the plant site.

Tom McMillan, consul general at the Canadian Consulate in Boston, called the fuel supply arrangement "a clear example of the Free Trade Agreement in action."

POWER SALES

TransCanada first conceived the project in 1984 to head off projected power shortages in New England. Its partners are Eastern Utilities Associates, New England Electric System, and J. Makowski Associates.

Power generated at Ocean State goes to these companies in Rhode Island and Massachusetts: Boston Edison Co., New England Power Co., Montaup Electric Co., and Newport Electric Corp.

Ocean State is the first major power plant built in New England in more than a decade. It also is the first power plant built in Rhode Island in 50 years and the largest industrial project in the history of that state.

In addition to the Ocean State plant, TransCanada is building a 36,000 kw, combined cycle power generating plant at Nipigon, Ont.

It will be fueled by a combination of steam generated from waste heat exhausted from a TransCanada mainline gas compressor and from a gas fueled turbogenerator.

The gas will be supplied under long term contracts with three western Canadian producers.

Power generated by the Nipigon plant will go to Ontario Hydro.