Completion of Millennium line delayed a year

Millennium Pipeline Co. LP has postponed its completion date 1 year to Nov. 1, 2000. The revised schedule calls for a phased construction plan, with some portions of the 442-mile gas pipeline servicing the Northeast U.S. to be completed in 1999 and the rest in 2000. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., Reston, Va., is the project's developer and largest interest holder. The $650 million project will begin at the Canadian border on Lake Erie and extend across southern New York state to

June 15, 1998

2 min read

Millennium Pipeline Co. LP has postponed its completion date 1 year to Nov. 1, 2000.

The revised schedule calls for a phased construction plan, with some portions of the 442-mile gas pipeline servicing the Northeast U.S. to be completed in 1999 and the rest in 2000.

Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., Reston, Va., is the project's developer and largest interest holder.

The $650 million project will begin at the Canadian border on Lake Erie and extend across southern New York state to Westchester County (see map, OGJ, Apr. 14, 1997, p. 28).

The system uses existing rights-of-way and utility corridors for 86% of its overland route and will include more than 30 connections to utility customers, pipelines, and gas storage facilities.

Delay not a problem

Project Manager David Pentzien said, "Our shippers have indicated that a Nov. 1, 2000, in-service date will meet their objectives to provide economically priced supplies of natural gas to customers in the East.

"The schedule also provides added flexibility for Millennium to schedule construction activities during optimal periods from summer 1999 through the fall of 2000."

Pentzien said Millennium's customers have executed precedent agreements for all of the pipeline's capacity to move up to 700 MMcfd.

In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this week, Millennium asked FERC to issue a preliminary determination on nonenvironmental aspects of the project by Sept. 30, and a final certificate authorizing construction by Apr. 30, 1999. Construction of certain segments of the pipeline could begin as early as July 1999.

Pentzien said, "Millennium's direct access to markets all along its route has made the project very attractive to a wide range of energy consumers, including utilities, industrial and commercial customers, and power generators. We continue to receive significant customer interest, from one end of the project to the other."