Massachusetts State Energy Profile
	QUICK FACTS The Everett and Offshore Boston liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facilities are the only LNG terminals located in the United States serving the Northeast. Massachusetts is one of the few states that require the statewide use of reformulated motor gasoline blended with ethanol. Massachusetts is a leading source of electricity generated from landfill gas and municipal solid waste. Massachusetts is the only New England state that relies significantly on coal-fired power plants, with coal accounting for one-fourth of electricity generation. A proposed 420-megawatt wind power project in Nantucket Sound could become the nation’s first offshore wind farm. Massachusetts received $25 million in 2009 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the development of the nation’s first large commercial-scale Wind Technology Testing Center, which will be able to test blades longer than 50 meters.
RESOURCES AND CONSUMPTION Massachusetts has no fossil fuel reserves but does possess substantial renewable energy resources. The state’s Atlantic coast in the east and the Berkshire Mountains in the west offer considerable wind power potential, and much of the state is covered in dense forest, offering potential fuel wood resources. Massachusetts is one of the most densely populated states in the nation. Per capita energy consumption is low, and the Massachusetts economy is one of the least energy-intensive in the U.S. The transportation and residential sectors lead state energy consumption. PETROLEUM Petroleum products are shipped into Massachusetts by barge, primarily to Boston Harbor. In addition, two small-capacity product pipelines run from ports in Connecticut and Rhode Island to Springfield, Massachusetts. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that require the statewide use of reformulated motor gasoline blended with ethanol. Massachusetts, along with much of the U.S. Northeast, is vulnerable to distillate fuel oil shortages and price spikes during winter months due to high demand for home heating. Nearly two-fifths of Massachusetts households use fuel oil as their primary energy source for home heating. In January and February 2000, distillate fuel oil prices in the Northeast rose sharply when extreme winter weather increased demand unexpectedly and hindered the delivery of new supply, as frozen rivers and high winds slowed the docking and unloading of barges and tankers. In July 2000, in order to reduce the risk of future shortages, the president directed the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve. The Reserve gives Northeast consumers adequate supplies for about 10 days, the time required for ships to carry heating oil from the Gulf of Mexico to New York Harbor. The Reserve's storage terminals are located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and Groton and New Haven, Connecticut. NATURAL GAS Electric power generators and the residential sector are the leading consumers of natural gas in Massachusetts. More than two-fifths of Massachusetts households use natural gas as their primary energy source for home heating. The state’s natural gas is supplied by pipeline from production areas in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Canada, from natural gas storage sites in the Appalachian Basin region, which includes parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and from other international sources, including Trinidad. The gas is supplied by pipelines entering the state from New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Like other New England states, Massachusetts has no natural gas storage sites and must rely on the Appalachian Basin storage capacity to supply peak demand in winter. Massachusetts also imports some of its natural gas from overseas via a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal near Boston. The Everett LNG and Offshore Boston LNG import facilities are two of nine existing LNG import terminals in the United States. COAL, ELECTRICITY, AND RENEWABLES Before the mid-1990s, petroleum-fired power plants led electricity production in Massachusetts. However, this source has declined steadily since 1991, as state power producers have reduced use of petroleum in favor of cleaner-burning natural gas. As in other New England states, this switch has been driven by the benefits of the lower emission levels of natural gas compared with other fossil fuels and the ease of siting new natural gas-fired power plants. Today, natural gas-fired power plants are the state’s leading power producers, accounting for over half of net generation. Coal, transported largely from Colorado and West Virginia, is the state’s second leading generation fuel, typically accounting for about one-fourth of net electricity production. The Pilgrim nuclear power plant located in Plymouth on Cape Cod Bay also contributes to the Massachusetts grid. Residential electricity use is lower in Massachusetts than the national average, in part because demand for air-conditioning is minimal during the mild summer months, and because few households use electricity as their primary energy source for home heating. Although renewable energy makes only a small contribution to net electricity generation, Massachusetts has several hydroelectric facilities and is one of the nation’s major producers of electricity from landfill gas and municipal solid waste. In July 2008, Massachusetts adopted a renewable portfolio standard requiring renewable energy to account for 15 percent of total electricity generation by 2020 and 25 percent by 2030. Regulations covering the leasing, siting, permitting, and building of wind turbines and other renewable energy sources in federal waters could allow a proposed 420-megawatt wind power project to be built in Nantucket Sound, to become the nation’s first offshore wind farm. However, the high-profile project faces significant opposition from area landowners. In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Massachusetts $25 million in funding to accelerate development of the state’s Wind Technology Testing Center, which will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades to help reduce cost, improve technical advancements, and speed deployment of the next generation of wind turbine blades into the marketplace. This center will be the first commercial facility in the United States able to test blades longer than 50 meters.

Massachusetts State Energy Profile

QUICK FACTS

The Everett and Offshore Boston liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facilities are the only LNG terminals located in the United States serving the Northeast.
Massachusetts is one of the few states that require the statewide use of reformulated motor gasoline blended with ethanol.
Massachusetts is a leading source of electricity generated from landfill gas and municipal solid waste.
Massachusetts is the only New England state that relies significantly on coal-fired power plants, with coal accounting for one-fourth of electricity generation.
A proposed 420-megawatt wind power project in Nantucket Sound could become the nation’s first offshore wind farm.
Massachusetts received $25 million in 2009 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the development of the nation’s first large commercial-scale Wind Technology Testing Center, which will be able to test blades longer than 50 meters.

RESOURCES AND CONSUMPTION

Massachusetts has no fossil fuel reserves but does possess substantial renewable energy resources. The state’s Atlantic coast in the east and the Berkshire Mountains in the west offer considerable wind power potential, and much of the state is covered in dense forest, offering potential fuel wood resources. Massachusetts is one of the most densely populated states in the nation. Per capita energy consumption is low, and the Massachusetts economy is one of the least energy-intensive in the U.S. The transportation and residential sectors lead state energy consumption.

PETROLEUM

Petroleum products are shipped into Massachusetts by barge, primarily to Boston Harbor. In addition, two small-capacity product pipelines run from ports in Connecticut and Rhode Island to Springfield, Massachusetts. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that require the statewide use of reformulated motor gasoline blended with ethanol.

Massachusetts, along with much of the U.S. Northeast, is vulnerable to distillate fuel oil shortages and price spikes during winter months due to high demand for home heating. Nearly two-fifths of Massachusetts households use fuel oil as their primary energy source for home heating. In January and February 2000, distillate fuel oil prices in the Northeast rose sharply when extreme winter weather increased demand unexpectedly and hindered the delivery of new supply, as frozen rivers and high winds slowed the docking and unloading of barges and tankers. In July 2000, in order to reduce the risk of future shortages, the president directed the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve. The Reserve gives Northeast consumers adequate supplies for about 10 days, the time required for ships to carry heating oil from the Gulf of Mexico to New York Harbor. The Reserve's storage terminals are located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and Groton and New Haven, Connecticut.

NATURAL GAS

Electric power generators and the residential sector are the leading consumers of natural gas in Massachusetts. More than two-fifths of Massachusetts households use natural gas as their primary energy source for home heating. The state’s natural gas is supplied by pipeline from production areas in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Canada, from natural gas storage sites in the Appalachian Basin region, which includes parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and from other international sources, including Trinidad. The gas is supplied by pipelines entering the state from New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Like other New England states, Massachusetts has no natural gas storage sites and must rely on the Appalachian Basin storage capacity to supply peak demand in winter. Massachusetts also imports some of its natural gas from overseas via a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal near Boston. The Everett LNG and Offshore Boston LNG import facilities are two of nine existing LNG import terminals in the United States.

COAL, ELECTRICITY, AND RENEWABLES

Before the mid-1990s, petroleum-fired power plants led electricity production in Massachusetts. However, this source has declined steadily since 1991, as state power producers have reduced use of petroleum in favor of cleaner-burning natural gas. As in other New England states, this switch has been driven by the benefits of the lower emission levels of natural gas compared with other fossil fuels and the ease of siting new natural gas-fired power plants. Today, natural gas-fired power plants are the state’s leading power producers, accounting for over half of net generation. Coal, transported largely from Colorado and West Virginia, is the state’s second leading generation fuel, typically accounting for about one-fourth of net electricity production. The Pilgrim nuclear power plant located in Plymouth on Cape Cod Bay also contributes to the Massachusetts grid.

Residential electricity use is lower in Massachusetts than the national average, in part because demand for air-conditioning is minimal during the mild summer months, and because few households use electricity as their primary energy source for home heating.

Although renewable energy makes only a small contribution to net electricity generation, Massachusetts has several hydroelectric facilities and is one of the nation’s major producers of electricity from landfill gas and municipal solid waste. In July 2008, Massachusetts adopted a renewable portfolio standard requiring renewable energy to account for 15 percent of total electricity generation by 2020 and 25 percent by 2030. Regulations covering the leasing, siting, permitting, and building of wind turbines and other renewable energy sources in federal waters could allow a proposed 420-megawatt wind power project to be built in Nantucket Sound, to become the nation’s first offshore wind farm. However, the high-profile project faces significant opposition from area landowners. In May 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Massachusetts $25 million in funding to accelerate development of the state’s Wind Technology Testing Center, which will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades to help reduce cost, improve technical advancements, and speed deployment of the next generation of wind turbine blades into the marketplace. This center will be the first commercial facility in the United States able to test blades longer than 50 meters.

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8 Mart 2013 Cuma