Just as new power plant demand is driving much of the gas market, the needs of generators are shaping the market for gas storage and what types of services are provided. While power is priced, scheduled and balanced hourly, the gas market is still a daily one. Hence, a need for energy storage that is growing with the market is encouraging the development and commercialization of new energy storage technologies. Injection and withdrawal flexibility are key. So is proximity to market. Some of these new or emerging storage technologies were outlined at the Ziff Energy Group 2002 Gas Storage Conference in February in Houston. It's a common belief in the industry that electricity can't be stored. That notion overlooks batteries, flywheels and super capacitors. On a larger scale, it overlooks pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage (CAES). David Hooker, vice president of marketing and regulatory affairs for CAES Developments Co., is promoting the Norton Energy Storage (NES) project in northeast Ohio. Being developed in nine 300-MW phases, Hooker said, "This is a monster. It's right in the load center of northeast Ohio." The project of the Haddington Ventures company seeks to capitalize on a former coal mine 2,200 ft below the earth's surface. The mine is 1.5 mi long by 1 mi wide.
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