AQ_GEN_PIO_20241010_MISC_PressRls

Oct. 10, 2024

State Increases Reporting Requirements in Final Air Quality Permit to
Moriah Energy Center
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air
Quality (DAQ) has issued an air quality permit to Moriah Energy Center, adding stronger
reporting requirements to the final permit in response to public comments.
Public Service Company of North Carolina, Inc. (PSNC) plans to liquefy natural gas at
Moriah Energy Center, in Person County, during periods of excess capacity and convert
it back to natural gas during high demand periods. The facility is planned to be
constructed in two phases.
At the end of September, Dominion Energy sold PSNC and its assets to Enbridge, Inc.
PSNC remains the owner and operator of Moriah Energy Center for permitting
purposes.
The liquefaction system will separate heavy hydrocarbons from the natural gas stream
before storage. The heavy hydrocarbon stream will either be routed back to the natural
gas pipeline or flared. The majority of emissions at the facility will come from
combustion sources including heaters, generators and flares. The facility will also allow
tanker truck loading and unloading of liquid natural gas, although the company says this
would not be the primary method of transporting the natural gas.
Operation of the facility will be required to emit air pollution at levels below major source
thresholds. Air dispersion modeling reviewed by DAQ demonstrated that the facility’s
emissions of toxic air pollutants are expected to comply with applicable standards and
will not cause an exceedance of any acceptable ambient level.
The final permit includes conditions that ensure ambient levels of all pollutants beyond
the facility’s fence line comply with emission standards, including applicable health-
based standards. The facility would also be subject to recordkeeping requirements and
regular inspections.
DAQ held a public hearing and a public comment period to solicit feedback on a draft of
the air permit. Division staff thoroughly reviewed every comment received. In response
to these public comments, the final permit increases the frequency at which Moriah
Energy Center will be required to report its emissions and operational data to comply
with Synthetic Minor limitations, from annual to quarterly. These reports will help DAQ
ensure the facility is operating at minor-source levels.
Other responses to public comments included:
• While not required, DAQ requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
conduct a full review of the draft air quality permit and review. EPA
recommended several edits for clarity that were incorporated, while agreeing that
the permit is enforceable and adheres to federal air quality rules.
• DAQ asked Dominion Energy to submit air dispersion modeling for the facility’s
emissions of nitrogen oxides. DAQ reviewed this modeling, which demonstrated
the facility would not cause an exceedance of federal standards.
• DAQ clarified safety requirements and provided contact information in the
hearing officer’s report for the North Carolina Utilities Commission Pipeline
Safety Section, which is the agency in North Carolina responsible for ensuring
liquified natural gas facilities comply with federal safety standards.
• DAQ requested information from Dominion Energy regarding the sale of PSNC to
Enbridge. Based on that information, an ownership change application is not
required at this time.
• DAQ made minor corrections for typos and other clarifications in the final
documents.
Copies of the final permit, final permit review, hearing officer’s report, permit application,
a one-page project fact sheet, and answers to frequently asked questions are available
online.

For More Information
Contact: Shawn Taylor
Phone: [phone]