Federal regulators cleared a TransCanada Corp. affiliate to increase the natural gas transportation capacity of border-crossing facilities between the U.S. and Canada from 178 MMcf/d to 210 MMcf/d.
After sending Portland Natural Gas Transmission System LP's application for an amended presidential permit to the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said the agencies did not object to the proposed expansion project.
"Granting the requested authorization will enable Portland to increase gas flow to and from Canada to meet the needs of shippers," FERC said in the Nov. 29 order. "In addition, increasing Portland's import/export capacity will promote national economic policy by reducing barriers to foreign trade and stimulating the flow of goods and services between the United States and Canada."
Portland Natural Gas in December 2016 filed an abbreviated application with FERC for a certificate order and presidential permit for the expansion project, which would expand the company's northern facilities from Westbrook, Maine, to border-crossing facilities near Pittsburg, N.H. The project received its existing presidential permit in September 1997.
The border-crossing facilities interconnect with the Trans-Quebec & Maritimes Pipeline Inc. system. The new capacity is fully subscribed.
Portland Natural Gas is owned by TC PipeLines Intermediate LP and Northern New England Investment Co. Inc. In August, the company asked FERC to consider expedited authorization for the project, which had an expected in-service date of Nov. 1. (FERC docket CP17-24)
