Gas Plants to Replace Aging MDU Coal Units in Glutted Bakken Shale Region

摘要

Montana-Dakota Utilities,one of the biggest power generators in the gas-rich Bakken region,is planning to close coal-fired plants totaling 144 megawatts and replace that generation with new gas-fired capacity. Weakening economics,as well as concerns about air quality,were at the heart of the decision to close the aging coal plants,which were too expensive to operate in a market awash in lower-cost alternatives,said MDU President and CEO Nicole Kivisto. And it's little wonder that gas tops the list of cheaper options.North Dakota's Bakken play produces 2.7 billion cubic feet per day of associated gas along with the 1.4 million barrels per day in oil production.But a persistent shortage of pipelines and processing plants means nearly a fifth of that gas is being flared-supply that would welcome a growing market in the power sector(NGWMar.4'19).