DOE OKAYS IMPORTS OF MORE CANADIAN GAS

The Department of Energy has given U.S. companies permission to import Canadian gas through the Niagara Import Point Projects (Nipps) to the U.S. Northeast. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently approved applications for the third and final phase of the pipeline project. U.S. customers could begin receiving imported gas through the line late this year, although most deliveries will begin next year.

Oct. 22, 1990

2 min read

The Department of Energy has given U.S. companies permission to import Canadian gas through the Niagara Import Point Projects (Nipps) to the U.S. Northeast.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently approved applications for the third and final phase of the pipeline project. U.S. customers could begin receiving imported gas through the line late this year, although most deliveries will begin next year.

Nipps involves construction of 545 miles of line by seven U.S. interstate pipeline companies, increasing the capacity of a pipeline system that begins at the Minnesota-Manitoba border, crosses Wisconsin and Michigan back into Canada, then returns to the U.S. via Niagara, N.Y.

The pipeline loops, along with 61,300 hp of added compression along the route, will open the way for an added 346.4 MMcfd of gas to be shipped to U.S. customers as far south as Virginia. Four pipelines will move the gas from Niagara, and much of it will fuel cogeneration plants.

WHO'S INVOLVED

The pipeline systems involved in Nipps are owned by Algonquin Gas Transmission Co., CNG Transmission Corp., Great Lakes Gas Transmission Co., National Fuel Gas Supply Corp., Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., Texas Eastern Transmission Corp., and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.

National Fuel Gas earlier said it will accept a FERC order approving the final phase of Nipps (OGJ, Oct. 1, p. 42).

Also DOE issued a final consolidated order approving 10 gas import applications that had previously received conditional approvals. Most of the gas will be authorized for 15 year delivery periods beginning Nov. 1. Smaller volumes were authorized for 13 year and 20 year periods.

Receiving import approvals were Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Project Orange Associates LP, Indeck Energy Services of Oswego Inc., Indeck-Yerkes Energy Service Inc., Long Island Cogeneration LP, National Fuel Gas Supply Corp., Northeast Energy Associates, North Jersey Energy Associates, Texas Eastern Transmission Corp., and Great Lakes Gas Transmission Co.