A glut for natural gas, too
Oil is not the only energy source that is seeing a glut. Growing supplies of natural gas could soon result in a similar phenomenon.
It was only a year and a half ago that the United States, and the northeast in particular, saw supplies dwindle to exceptionally low levels, forcing prices to temporarily spike. The Northeast experienced a freezing winter, leading to high levels of consumption as millions of people tried to keep warm. Natural gas storage levels plummeted to lows not seen in years.
The severe drawdown in storage levels during that cold 2014 winter raised fears that the situation would be even worse the following year. With inventories depleted, another brutal cold could blow a huge hole in storage levels.
And while the northeast did have a rough winter in 2015, and consumption levels were just as high as the year before, something different happened this time around: U.S. drillers produced a record level of natural gas in 2014, allowing inventories to quickly rebuild. After storage levels ran well below their five-year average (see chart), by the beginning of 2015, as production continued to rise, storage tanks filled up and overall inventories bounced back to the average. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Danbury voters OK high school
DANBURY — The state’s largest high school is going to grow larger — a good problem to have only if there is enough space to put the new students.
City voters Tuesday gave Danbury High School the extra space it needs by authorizing a $53.5 million expansion that includes a new 24-classroom wing to house its freshman academy. The vote was 997-860 in favor.
Although the students were not buzzing with anticipation in the hallways on Wednesday, teachers and administrators were.
“It is going to be new and exciting,” Assistant Principal Dan Donovan said. “The extra space will give us the ability to increase our instructional practice and it will help freshmen in their transition.”
The city will spend the summer designing the four-story classroom addition and other elements of the project, including a new automotive shop, a free-standing community theater, a new glass-faced entrance and a $6 million smart roof.
The goal is to begin site work in the fall. Construction would start in the spring, with a completion date set for first day of class in the fall of 2016.
“I think everyone recognizes we are growing and something has to be done,” said Principal Gary Bocaccio, speaking of a high school enrollment that is expected to climb from 3,000 to 3,300 in 2020. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
NPU breaks ground on second compressed natural gas fuel station
NORWICH - Norwich Public Utilities has broken ground on a new $1.8
million compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station at 168 West Town St.,
it’s second such facility in the city.
Paid for mostly through federal grants, NPU is contributing $414,000
toward the work. Features include 24-hour access to pumps, a dual hose, quick
fill dispenser and service island.
"Alternative fuel vehicles are good for business and good for
the environment and NPU is proud to extend our commitment to support this
American fuel source," NPU General Manager John Bilda said in a
statement.
The West Town Street station is NPU’s second CNG filing station,
joining a facility located at 157 North Main St. utilized by NPU and a number of
commercial entities.
Officials expect construction to be done in time for a November
opening.