Town Of Portsmouth: Narragansett Electric Company Public Hearing Will Need To Be Rescheduled

Press release from the Town of Portsmouth:

1/18/24 UPDATE:The Siting Board was informed by Rhode Island Energy that the Company neglected to provide the required notice to the abutters to the project that there would be a public comment hearing on January 24. Similarly, the Company has not provided the required notice to the abutters for the evidentiary hearings within the statutorily mandated timeframe. As a consequence, the Board has canceled both the public comment hearing of January 24 and the evidentiary hearings that had been scheduled for February 12, 14, and 22. The public comment hearing and evidentiary hearings will need to be rescheduled. The parties and the public will be notified of a new schedule at a later date.Notice of Public Comment Hearing State of Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board

In Re: The Narragansett Electric Company's Application for a License to Mobilize and Operate a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Vaporization Facility at Old Mill Lane – DOCKET NO. SB-2021-04

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT

Pursuant to the provisions of R.I .Gen. Laws § 42-98 and § 42-35, as amended, in particular § 42-98- 9.1(b) and Rule 1.8(g) of its Rules of Practice and Procedure (Rules), the Energy Facility Siting Board (Board) will conduct a public hearing at 6 pm on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at the Portsmouth High School located at 120 Education Lane in Portsmouth, RI 02871. Public comment will be heard.

The Narragansett Electric Company seasonally mobilizes and operates a liquified natural gas (LNG) vaporization facility at property located on Old Mill Lane in Portsmouth, pursuant to temporary emergency waivers from the licensing requirement of the Energy Facility Siting Act. The LNG vaporization facility consists of portable equipment that is mobilized during the winter season to perform peak-shaving for the natural gas distribution system.

In an application filed with the Board on May 19, 2021, Narragansett Electric sought the approval of the Board to mobilize and operate the LNG vaporization facility without need of further waivers while developing a long-term solution to the natural gas capacity constraint and vulnerability challenges facing Aquidneck Island. Following a Preliminary Hearing held in August 2021, the Board granted Narragansett Electric its requested waiver extension for the 2021/2022 winter with the condition that the Company file a supplemental application by April 4, 2022 setting forth its preferred long-term solution.

On April 1, 2022, Narragansett Electric filed a supplemental application with the Board identifying the LNG vaporization facility at Old Mill Lane as its preferred long-term solution and seeking a full license for the facility. The Board has consolidated the Company’s original application with its supplemental application in Docket No. SB-2021-04.

Pursuant to Section 1.8.G of the Board’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Board is holding a public hearing to hear comments from members of the public before initiating the Final Hearing in this proceeding. The Board will continue to accept written public comment until the date of its final decision. Written public comment can be emailed to the Board Coordinator or mailed to the Board’s office.

All of the materials filed in this proceeding are on file and available for public review at the Board office located within the Public Utilities Commission office building at 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island. They are also available online at: https://ripuc.ri.gov/efsb/2021_SB_04.html.

The Portsmouth High School is accessible to the handicapped. Requests for interpreter services for the hearing impaired must be made to the Coordinator at 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, 401-780-2108, Kristen.L.Masse@puc.ri.gov at least 72 hours in advance of the hearing.

Kristen Masse, Coordinator Energy Facility Siting Board December 22, 2023

This press release was produced by the Town of Portsmouth. The views expressed here are the author’s own.