Charlton $100M LNG Plant to Present New Plan Wednesday

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): The plan to develop a $100 million liquid natural gas plant along the “energy corridor” will be presented at a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Charlton Middle School.

Liberty Energy Trust, operating under the name Northeast Energy Center LLC, seeks to construct the LNG plant on 12 acres near Millennium Power on Route 169.

Boris Brevnov, manager Liberty Energy Trust, told Charlton selectmen last week the Route 20 location described during a state Department of Public Utilities public hearing in November has been abandoned.

The new site, he said, was the optimal location in what he called the “energy corridor” along Route 169.

The property abuts Incom Inc., which abuts Millennium. The Tennessee Gas Pipeline, a National Grid transmission line, and a solar farm are at the rear of the property.

Mr. Brevnov said the LNG plant would complement the location, could supply energy to Incom and could be a backup power resource for Millennium.

“The new location will enable NEC to provide LNG service to other gas utilities delivering cost, reliability and environmental benefits for central and western Massachusetts gas customers,” Mr. Brevnov wrote to selectmen on March 4. “The facility may also provide secondary fuel via LNG or reserve gas to nearby generation facilities on peak days.”

The goal, he wrote, is to provide cost and reliability benefits to electricity customers and reduce emissions by displacing coal or oil generation on peak demand days.

Mr. Brevnov told selectmen the proposed natural gas liquefaction, storage and truck-loading facility is a hybrid and would be the first of its kind in North America.

“We want Charlton to be proud as a place of innovation,” he said.

Mr. Brevnov said the tangible benefits to the town, other than tax revenue, would be open access to a natural gas supply, first to local businesses and then to residents.

Local companies are being hired for the project, such as Weston and Sampson for engineering and Bond Brothers for construction.

The project will undergo multi-jurisdictional reviews and approvals from both the state Department of Public Utilities and the state Energy Facilities Siting Board.

Selectmen questioned the company’s move to waive the local zoning process. Mr. Brevnov said state officials decided the state would oversee and centralize the expertise needed in all facets of project development. Yet, the company has volunteered to undergo the local planning process as well.

The Planning Board has filed as an intervener on the project. The board is also assembling a multi-disciplinary local review committee to work with the applicant with an eye toward protecting public health, safety and minimize environmental impacts.

Courtesy: www.telegram.com