Nexus Gas Partners LLC's request that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission immediately approve its 1.5-Bcf/d natural gas pipeline project quickly generated outside support and opposition.
The Aug. 11 letter from Local 18, a chapter of the union with members in Ohio and Kentucky, echoed Nexus' claims that the project's record is complete and its application is ready for a certificate order from FERC.
The approximately 256-mile pipeline project would "meet a growing need for clean-burning natural gas in the regions of Ohio, Michigan and Ontario," the union said. The group also estimated that the project's construction activities would create 5,325 jobs and more than $565 million in wages.
On the other side, attorney Carolyn Elefant, who represents Oberlin, asked FERC to deny a certificate order for the project, pointing to a lack of demonstrated need for the pipeline. "Nexus' letter omits the real issue that accounts for the commission's failure to act on the certificate application so far: the pipeline's inability to secure contracts for more than 59% of the its 1.5 Bcf/d of capacity," Elefant said in her Aug. 10 letter to the agency.
Without a demonstrated need, Elefant said, the Nexus project fails to meet essential requirements for an authorizing certificate order. Elefant added Nexus' acquisition of 93% of the properties along the route, mentioned in its request to FERC, is "irrelevant."
The project received a positive final environmental impact statement from commission staff on Nov. 30, but it was not issued a certificate order prior to Feb. 3, when the commission lost its quorum.
The Nexus project is a joint venture of Enbridge Inc.'s Spectra Energy Partners LP and DTE Energy Co. The 36-inch-diameter pipeline and other transportation and compression infrastructure would deliver Marcellus Shale gas supplies through Ohio and Michigan to Ontario. (FERC docket CP16-22)