PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC reinforced its commitment to theproposed PennEast natural gas pipeline after a FERC notice of schedule pushedback the time frame for the project.
"PennEast … is in the process of reviewing FERC's [noticeof schedule] in order to update its timeframe for construction," thecompany said in an April 4 statement. "Based on a preliminary review,PennEast anticipates an in-service date in the second half of 2018 rather thanlate 2017."
FERC staff announcedMarch 29 that it expected to release the final environmental review for thePennEast project Dec. 16.
"We remain committed to the completion of this vitalproject," Peter Terranova, chair of the PennEast board of managers, saidin the statement.
PennEast called FERC's release of the schedule forenvironmental review of the project "a key milestone." The companysaid it has made agreements to secure equipment to construct and operate thepipeline, and is working on other construction agreements.
PennEast filed its formal application with the commission inSeptember 2015. The pipelineproject is expected to cost approximately $1.13 billion. It wouldrun about 118 miles and have the capacity to move about 1 Bcf/d of gas fromnortheastern Pennsylvania to customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
PennEast was formed by AGL Resources Inc., NewJersey Resources Corp.'s NJR Pipeline Co., 'sPSEG Power LLC, South JerseyIndustries Inc.'s SJI Midstream, Spectra Energy Partners LP and 's .