Dawn Storage Celebrates 75 Years of Growth and Innovation
CHATHAM, ON, Oct. 26, 2017 /CNW/ - Seventy-five years ago, Union Gas pioneered the use of underground storage to meet natural gas demand in Ontario – in Dawn Township, near Sarnia - a critical but largely unheralded innovation that to this day ensures Ontarians have a reliable source of affordable energy well into the 21st century.
On October 28, 1942, natural gas was injected into a naturally-occurring, depleted pinnacle reef formation at Dawn, marking the birth of Canada's first commercially successful underground storage pool. Dawn is now Canada's largest integrated natural gas storage facility and an integral part of North America's gas infrastructure. Over 100 companies actively buy and sell natural gas at Dawn making it the second most physically traded hub in North America. Similar to using a bank to deposit and withdraw money, homes, businesses, industry and power generators in Eastern Canada and the US Northeast access Dawn to store natural gas until needed.
"The development of underground storage at Dawn, 75 years ago, changed Ontario's energy industry and is an anniversary worth celebrating," says Jim Redford, vice-president, business development, storage and transmission, Union Gas. "We're proud as a company to have been instrumental in helping create the reliable natural gas system that Ontario consumers count on today."
"I am pleased to help mark the 75th Anniversary of Union Gas' Dawn Storage facility," says Glenn Thibeault, Minister of Energy. "I also want to congratulate all of the Union Gas employees and leadership at the facility for their hard work and commitment over the three-quarters of a century in ensuring Ontario consumers have a reliable and affordable supply of natural gas."
Dawn is strategically located in southwestern Ontario, providing direct access to North America's major supply basins, including abundant and affordable natural gas supplies in the Utica and Marcellus producing regions. With multiple supply routes from western Canada, mid-continent, the Rockies, and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the ability to serve markets in the mid-west, eastern Canada and the U.S. Northeast, the Union Gas Dawn Hub is a reliable, secure, and liquid natural gas trading hub.
Dawn ensures Ontario homes and businesses can draw on abundant and affordable natural gas 24/7, 365 days a year. In fact, the Dawn Storage facility can hold enough natural gas to heat an average home for 3.5 million years. Learn more fascinating facts about Dawn and watch a video by clicking here.
"For 75 years the Dawn Hub has been a vital economic development for Southwestern Ontario, creating good local jobs while supplying families and businesses across the country with affordable energy," remarked Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
About Union Gas
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with over 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves about 1.5 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across Ontario. Union Gas is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2017, and has assets of $8.2 billion and approximately 2,300 employees. For more information, visit uniongas.com or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/uniongas, Facebook: facebook.com/uniongas and YouTube: youtube.com/user/uniongas.
SOURCE Union Gas Limited
To arrange an interview, contact: Union Gas Limited, Andrea Stass, Manager, External Communications and Media Relations, Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5005490, Cell: 519 365-1010, [email protected]
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