Hydrokinetics or Tidal Energy

       Hydrokinetics involves the harnessing of kinetic energy in water power using new technology to generate electricity without the construction of a dam or water retaining device from ocean waves, tides, and currents and from free-flowing rivers, located in the ocean, at the mouth of rivers, bays, or other natural channels. These new technological devices may or may not be anchored to the ocean/river/channel bottom with cables or shafts and the water can flow through them unimpeded, or use the vertical undulating motion of ocean waves, to generate power.

      LNG (Liquified Natural Gas)

      LNG is liquefied natural gas (methane) that has been cooled to an extremely cold temperature (-260° F/ -162.2° C). At standard atmospheric conditions, methane is a vapor, not to be confused with gasoline, which is a liquid. Cooling natural gas to -260° F/ -162.2° C changes it from a vapor into a liquid. This reduces the space natural gas occupies by more than 600 times, making it a practical size for storage and transportation.

      LNG Natural gas continues to be the economic and environmental fuel of choice in the US. This growing trend has created a demand that cannot be met solely by domestic or Canadian production. In the US, natural gas production in the lower 48 states has been declining. With projected decreases in conventional onshore and offshore natural gas production and the projected decline in natural gas imports from Canada through to 2025, growth in US natural gas supplies will depend on non-conventional domestic production, natural gas from Alaska, and imports of LNG.

      Ships unload LNG at specially designed terminals where the LNG is pumped from the ship to insulated storage tanks at the terminal. LNG is also converted back to gas at the terminal, which is connected to natural gas pipelines that transport the gas to where it is needed. Specially designed trucks may also be used to deliver LNG to other storage facilities in different locations.

      For pictures please see the Commission’s photo gallery

      Hurricane recovery

      The February 23, 2006 report, The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned recognizes that the Commission took immediate steps to reconstruct the natural gas infrastructure of the region, and reduce the disruption in the natural gas supply:

      "In another effort to get needed resources in the region freed up for use by the victims and responders there, as well by citizens throughout the Nation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission took immediate steps to reconstruct the natural gas infrastructure of the region, and reduce the disruption in the natural gas supply. Because the Commission approved temporary waivers and expanded eligibility standards they were able to help natural gas companies restore service and deliver additional gas to the market."