Final review of Mountain Valley gas project to incorporate route modifications
FERC staff announced its intent to prepare a final environmental review for the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline project, incorporating at least 31 route changes.
In a Jan. 13 letter, Office of Energy Projects staff reached out to landowners who may not have been previously part of the staff's environmental review process. After staff issued a draft environmental impact statement, or EIS, for the project in September 2016, Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC filed some minor changes to the project's route through Virginia and West Virginia.
The route modifications were made in response to recommendations from the draft EIS, landowner requests or engineering concerns, according to FERC staff. The final EIS would address the project again, and would consider the route modifications as part of the proposed project.
Eastern Shore applies for 86,000-Dth/d expansion project
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co. asked FERC to authorize a pipeline expansion project that would increase transportation capacity on its system by more than 86,000 Dth/d.
The Chesapeake Utilities Corp. subsidiary filed an application for a certificate to build and operate the 2017 Expansion project, which would meet growing market demand for gas. The project would provide an additional 61,162 Dth/d of firm transportation service to seven of Eastern Shore's customers, according to a Jan. 11 FERC notice. The customers include local utility, power and industrial manufacturing companies.
Eastern Shore asked FERC to issue a certificate order for the project by May 2017 to meet an anticipated in-service date of Nov. 1. The in-service date was requested by the project shippers. The total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $98.6 million.
Kinder Morgan to begin work on supply project for Cameron LNG
FERC approved a Kinder Morgan Inc. subsidiary's request to begin construction on a pipeline project that will increase natural gas transportation capacity to the Cameron LNG export terminal by up to 900,000 Dth/d.
A Jan. 12 FERC notice granted partial authorization for construction on the Southwest Louisiana Supply project. The authorization allowed construction and modification at two compressor stations and four meter stations for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. project in Louisiana. A request to proceed with construction of the project's remaining infrastructure, including 2.4 miles of new pipeline lateral in Madison Parish, La., and 1.4 miles of new lateral in Richland Parish, La., must still be submitted to the commission.
Columbia Gas to soon receive environmental review of Va. expansion project
FERC staff plans to issue next month an environmental review for Columbia Gas Transmission LLC's 45,000-Dth/d expansion project in Virginia.
In a Jan. 11 notice, FERC staff released its plans to issue the environmental assessment on Feb. 28. Federal agencies cooperating with FERC would have 90 days following the publication, for a deadline of May 29, to finish their work on the review.
Tennessee Gas nudges FERC for Orion expansion authorization
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. urged FERC to grant authorization before February for the Orion natural gas expansion project that would add 135,000 Dth/d of west-to-east capacity in northeast Pennsylvania.
"Issuance of the requested certificate order by Jan. 31, 2017 will assist with the growing demand for energy in the form of cleaner burning natural gas in the Middle Atlantic and New England regions of the United States," Tennessee Gas said in a letter to the commission filed Jan. 13.
Avangrid affiliate approved to raise sendout capacity at Conn. LNG facility
FERC gave the OK for Total Peaking Services LLC to increase sendout capacity at an LNG facility in Milford, Conn., after the company said it expects demand to outpace capacity in the gas-hungry region by the winter 2017-2018 heating season.
Total Peaking asked FERC in September 2015 for authorization to increase the plant's regasification sendout capacity from 90 MMcf/d to 105 MMcf/d after its sole customer, CNE Peaking LLC, experienced "significant load growth due to new customer additions within its service territory." The commission on Dec. 15, 2016, approved modifications to the plant for the company to increase capacity, and on Jan. 13, it issued the blanket certificate.
FERC OKs construction on ANR project for TVA plant
FERC approved ANR Pipeline Co.'s request to begin building a 200,000-Dth/d natural gas transportation project that will expand capacity to a planned Tennessee Valley Authority power plant.
A Jan. 16 FERC order granted the construction authorization for the Collierville expansion project in Shelby County, Tenn. The project will provide firm gas transportation service to the TVA's Thomas H Allen power plant.
Industrial gas consumers throw support behind 12 pipeline proposals
The Industrial Energy Consumers of America urged FERC to approve 12 major natural gas pipeline projects.
"Because there have been so many comments filed in opposition to these pipelines, we felt it necessary to file comments in support of the pipeline approvals," IECA President Paul Cicio said in an email.
IECA acted on behalf of its members, manufacturing and industrial companies that consume a lot of gas and electricity. The companies selected which gas pipeline projects to champion out of a concern for pipeline capacity.