LNG Facility Brings Positive Economic Change To Former Manufacturing Center

Situated along the Naugatuck River in central Connecticut, the city of Waterbury gained a reputation years ago for the quality of its brass products, earning it the nickname “The Brass Capital Of The World”. However, like many other New England industrial centers, the city’s status as a manufacturing giant began to wane in the latter half of the 20th century, with the last brass mill officially closing its doors in the 1970s.

Today, Waterbury is on the rebound, with various projects throughout the city revitalizing once derelict property. One such project was completed in fall 2007 by Yankee Gas Service Company, Connecticut’s largest natural gas distribution company. Yankee Gas constructed a $107 million, 1.2-Bcf liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility on a brownfield site that was in need of environmental remediation.

The result was a first-of-its-kind LNG facility, a positive economic development for a once struggling municipality, and a successful outcome to a potentially sensitive natural gas project.

Waterbury enjoys a solid relationship with the gas company, which has served as an employer in the area for nearly a century. The gas company also has a vested interest in the city’s ongoing economic revival since Waterbury represents the company’s largest customer base.

Yankee Gas once operated four smaller LNG facilities in the state, one of which was located in Waterbury. However, the company retired the plants in 1991.

The Eagle Street property where the new LNG facility sits is located within a valley near the Naugatuck River and abuts Railroad Hill Road. It had many gas-related uses over the years, including a former manufactured natural gas plant and a propane peak-shaving facility. Prior to its revitalization, the cigar-shaped, flat piece of land was in a state of abandonment, featured some environmentally contaminated areas and had been scheduled for a Department of Environmental Protection cleanup.

Additionally, because of the property’s restrictive zoning codes - which result from its proximity to residences - special design elements were implemented, particularly the construction of the first full-containment tank built in the United States. Full containment offers a more compact arrangement which requires less real estate for siting the tank.

The full-containment tank features an integral steel and concrete outer wall capable of containing the volume equivalent of the inner, cryogenic steel tank in the event of a leak or failure. The outer steel/concrete tank, while accomplishing its intended containment objective, also provides additional protection against accidental or intentional forces which may otherwise compromise the tank system.

The outer tank is made of carbon steel-lined concrete, and measures 150 feet high and 158 feet in diameter. The inner tank is made of 9% nickel steel, and measures 117 feet high and 146 feet in diameter. The tank holds 348,000 barrels (14.6 million gallons) of liquid, the equivalent of 1.2 Bcf of gas, which is enough to heat 85,000 homes for a month.