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A “Virtual Pipeline” for NatGas Goes Live in Upstate New York

virtual pipelineWe’ve written about the concept of a “virtual pipeline” a couple of times before, in October (see NY Paper Plant Opts for “Virtual” NatGas Pipeline Over Real One and Florida Co. Building Big CNG “Mother Station” in Marcellus Region). The simplified version is this: Instead of laying a pipeline in the ground, which is more or less permanent, use trucks and even trains to transport compressed natural gas (CNG) to a central facility and from that facility distribute the gas–either by local pipelines or by trucks. Sort of a hub and spoke system applied to moving natural gas. We find it intriguing. For the second time in the past few months such a system is being created in New York State. But this time it’s being created by a large/major utility–New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG). NYSEG is allowing new customers to sign up for natural gas in the Mechanicville (Saratoga County), NY area with the addition of a new “virtual pipeline” of CNG trucks that deliver CNG to a centralized facility in town. Here’s how that gas will help Mechanicville economically expand and provide new jobs…
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