Spectra applies to begin Nexus gas pipeline’s FERC review

Spectra Energy’s Nexus Gas Transmission project has formally applied to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a “certificate of public convenience and necessity” to construct and operate its 255-mile interstate natural gas pipeline. The Nexus project will link Appalachian basin gas to markets in Ohio, Michigan, and the Dawn Hub in Ontario.

The FERC application starts the agency’s formal environmental review of the project. FERC is the lead federal agency charged with coordinating National Environmental Policy Act compliance in reviewing pipeline certificate applications.

Nexus’s route will include 11 customer connections in Ohio. The company continues to negotiate with other customers along the route and will provide access even after the pipeline’s November 2017 proposed in-service date.

Nexus says it has evaluated more than 250 route variations and that roughly 87% of the pipeline’s proposed route is in agricultural areas or follows existing utility corridors in Ohio and Michigan.

The company’s application requests FERC issue an approval of the project in fourth-quarter 2016 so that construction can begin in early 2017. Nexus is part of a development program Spectra announced 2 years ago add as much as 7.3-bcfd of capacity to its pipeline system by 2017 (OGJ Online, Sept. 26, 2013).