How do compressor stations work?
These highly regulated facilities give natural gas a needed “boost” along a pipeline—and must meet rigorous safety, air quality and noise standards.
Weymouth Compressor Station
The Weymouth Compressor Station was built as part of the Atlantic Bridge project and started flowing gas for customers as of January 2021. The facility serves three natural gas utilities in Maine who signed contracts as part of the Atlantic Bridge project, as well an industrial customer and a gas utility in Atlantic Canada.
The facility serves a power plant in Salem, MA, which benefits from additional access to natural gas made available by the Weymouth Compressor Station.
In Maine, where around two-thirds of homes heat with more carbon-intensive fuels than natural gas, greater access to natural gas can help replace more carbon-intensive and more expensive sources of energy, helping consumers realize environmental benefits and cost savings, and helping address climate change.
We’re constantly seeking to improve our environmental performance, and are working to reduce emissions to the greatest extent possible, consistent with our Environmental, Social, and Governance goals.
Find out more about the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline, check out our interactive map.
Facility Information:
Safety and air quality
The federal government highly regulates compressor stations which must meet rigorous safety and air quality standards.
Safety
Compressor stations employ a variety of safety systems and practices to support safe operations. All compressor stations are monitored around the clock by highly trained personnel, and we have a team of capable local technicians who work to keep the facility in good operating condition.
We’ve also been working closely with first responders in Weymouth, Quincy, and Braintree to ensure they are familiar with the facility and the safety features in place.
As part of our commitment to safety, we engage with first responders and local officials in the communities where we operate to address any planning needs.
Air quality
The emissions from the Weymouth Compressor Station are strictly regulated, and we operate the facility with public health and safety as our priority. The controlled venting of natural gas, which is sometimes required at gas facilities, is a safe and routine procedure which is part of regular pipeline maintenance activities.
Compressor stations are designed to safely vent natural gas during maintenance, testing, or if a shutdown is required, at which point the natural gas is vented through stacks specifically designed for that purpose. Once natural gas is vented, it naturally and safely dissipates. Households also vent natural gas when replacing a furnace, stove or gas dryer and these appliances use natural gas as a fuel, similar to the compressor unit at the station.
At this facility, we publicly report any venting of natural gas over 10,000 standard cubic feet—an amount that would supply about 15% of gas used by one average Boston-area household annually. You may see these notifications as they are sometimes shared on websites, social media, and in news content.
