Southern Reliability Link Construction Begins

[rc911]

The attached photos were taken Wednesday, March 29, 2017 In Chesterfield, NJ showing workers, heavy equipment and protesters all arriving for the beginning of excavation for the much anticipated, debated and protested Southern Reliability Link Pipeline. The 28 mile pipeline project will extend through Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties where it will terminate in Manchester. The 30 inch, high pressurized pipeline will be the source of a secondary supply of natural gas to parts of the Jersey shore to prevent energy disruption caused by another "Sandy" event.

 

[Ben Ruset]

What energy disruption (besides the power going out) was caused by Sandy?

 

[rc911]

Apparently, many of the gas mains were either ruptured or badly damaged along the coast and gas was turned off en masse for weeks if not months after the storm leaving whole towns without gas. That is why the big push for this "backup" pipeline.

 

[smoke_jumper]

Humm?? So Sandy took out a bunch of gas mains on the islands. How does having a back up help? Wouldn't a similar storm take both out and both need to be fixed? The logic confuses me.

 

[46er]

The only gas mains I am aware that were destroyed were in the towns along RT 35 from Pt Pleasant to Seaside Park. May have also happened elsewhere. Everything over there was destroyed; gas, electric, phone, water, sewer. Not sure how that affected the mainland, but perhaps a loss of pressure.

What FEMA reported;

Natural gas supply lines on barrier islands are completely destroyed, sustaining an estimated $97 million in damage.

https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4086/updates/6-months-report-superstorm-sandy-pre-disaster-recovery

 

[rc911]

This is from the link that 46er provided above: Natural gas supply lines on barrier islands are completely destroyed, sustaining an estimated $97 million in damage.

 

[Ben Ruset]

So how is this pipeline going to help the barrier islands?

 

[Boyd]

According to their FAQ, its purpose is just to provide redundancy for their system….

https://www.njng.com/about/southern-reliability-link/faqs.asp

Why is it needed?

Currently, Ocean, Burlington and Monmouth counties are served by one primary, major interstate pipeline, which runs through Middlesex County on the northern edge of our system. Because the majority of the natural gas is supplied through this location, NJNG's customers in Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington counties could be adversely affected by a supply interruption or system failure.

The SRL is being developed to provide a major interstate connection into the southern end of our system. This second feed is essential to ensuring reliable service and a diversified supply of natural gas for our customers in the region.

What benefits will the SRL provide?

By reinforcing the supply of natural gas with a second feed from a separate interstate pipeline, the SRL will help mitigate potential customer interruptions, enhance system resiliency and ensure safe, reliable natural gas service for the region. It will improve our entire core transmission system so that it would be fed from opposite ends by two separate interstate suppliers.

The SRL also serves to strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the natural gas distribution system that serves the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and supports its critical mission.

By supporting this major driver of the economy, and jobs in Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington counties, the SRL will provide tangible benefits to the entire region.

 

[46er]

So how is this pipeline going to help the barrier islands?

From what I have read, it doesn't have anything to do with the damage caused by Sandy. It is just a secondary supply line to backup the single line that supplies 3 counties, which include the barrier islands, in case of a failure or disruption along the existing main supply line.

All the paperwork;

https://www.njng.com/about/southern-reliability-link/srl-bpu-filings.asp

 

[Piney4life]

I would not be surprised to see oyster creek converted to a co gen (once they shut down the reactors in 2019) with this pipeline.

 

[46er]

I would not be surprised to see oyster creek converted to a co gen (once they shut down the reactors in 2019) with this pipeline.

Oyster Creek isn't going anywhere any time soon. It just won't be generating any electric power or employing over 700 people; fortunately for local residents the potential loss of taxes will be covered.

After the Oyster Creek plant is shut by the end of 2019, Exelon will take about two years to put its components “in layup” but will not tear it down for at least 10 years after that, and possibly not for 60 years, Mr. Crane said. The company has accumulated $750 million for decommissioning, which he called adequate.

- NY Times

 

[ninemileskid]

From what I have read, it doesn't have anything to do with the damage caused by Sandy. It is just a secondary supply line to backup the single line that supplies 3 counties, which include the barrier islands, in case of a failure or disruption along the existing main supply line.

All the paperwork;

https://www.njng.com/about/southern-reliability-link/srl-bpu-filings.asp

W..W...W..Wait just a minute here! They're telling us just how safe these pipelines are to ease our worries about a new one being built FOR WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE EXISTING ONE?!?!

 

[46er]

W..W...W..Wait just a minute here! They're telling us just how safe these pipelines are to ease our worries about a new one being built FOR WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE EXISTING ONE?!?!

Yes they are. Nothing is without problems. Remember the 6 P's.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Alrighty. So run a new pipeline through the Pine Barrens as a backup to an existing line in case there are problems but there are never problems with pipelines because they're totally safe and never break or leak. Also this won't do jack for anybody who lives on a barrier island, but we'll trot out how the gas mains were broken during Sandy to justify shoving another pipeline through the Pine Barrens.

Got it.

 

[rc911]

The serpent like Southern Reliability Link is slithering its way through the Pine Barrens. The 30 inch pipeline, when completed, will transport natural gas at a pressure of 3000 psi. This is a view of the project on Rt. 539 between Rts. 537 & 528 in Plumsted Twp. Ocean County.

 

[Teegate]

How far south is that going?

 

[46er]

How far south is that going?

https://www.njng.com/about/southern-reliability-link/route.aspx

 

[old jersey girl]

Two years ago in Stone Harbor I stopped to ask what the project was that had 3 trucks and a half dozen guys doing something to the natural gas pipeline at the 2nd Street bridge. This is a tiny bridge crossing from the main island to streets on lagoons facing the inland waterway.

They were installing emergency shutoff units on the gas line, in case the bridge broke and the line broke.
The foreman said this was being done on other barrier islands.

Remember the fires after Sandy hit barrier islands and gas lines broke?

Apparently the original installation of natural gas to barrier communities did not include such shutoffs, needed if bridges are damaged, houses washed/blown away.

Are there such shutoffs/failsafes on the main pipeline?

 

[46er]

This is a view of the project on Rt. 539 between Rts. 537 & 528 in Plumsted Twp. Ocean County.

They going to roll that entire length into the ditch in one piece?