Barges hauling 100,000-gallon gas tanks are making their way to Bishopville this month in preparation for a new natural gas storage facility.
Nicholas Bishop, capital projects manager for Chesapeake Utilities, said the tanks are part of an Worcester Resiliency Upgrade project recently approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil and electricity.
Construction of a new liquefied natural gas storage facility in Bishopville will begin in the coming months and be completed by next year. Eastern Shore Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities, will operate the site.
“The facility will provide additional capacity to protect customers from weather-related supply disruptions and expand energy availability to more residents and local businesses,” he said.
The 135-acre site – located next to the asphalt plant in Bishopville – will house five, 100,000-gallon, low-profile horizontal storage tanks, Bishop said.
Given their size, the tanks were shipped from a manufacturing company to Norfolk, Va., where they were then barged to Moore Boat in Bishopville. From there, the tanks were transported by truck to the project site, which caused temporary road closures.
“Eastern Shore Natural Gas worked with several specialized shipping companies to deliver the tanks, and coordinated the entire process with FERC, local officials, first responders and MDOT to ensure safety and minimize disruption to the community,” Bishop said.
Great ! At least someone is thinking ahead.