Gas Plant Guarding US Northeast From Winter Blackouts Is at Risk

A natural gas terminal that’s been operating for more than half a century has been a crucial safeguard against blackouts when bone-chilling cold hits the US Northeast. In less than five months, it’s slated to shut forever.

The Everett gas import plant near Boston is at risk of closing in May, coinciding with the retirement of its biggest customer, the Mystic power station. Both facilities are owned by Constellation Energy Corp., which has said Mystic is uneconomic to operate under most conditions.

Everett’s closure would jeopardize the reliability of the region’s power system in extreme weather, according to the nation’s ...