US Regulator Okays Millennium Upgrade
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) approved on November 28 Millennium Pipeline’s $275mn Eastern System Upgrade Project, designed to increase firm service capability to nine local distribution companies and municipalities in the state of New York.
The upgrade project will provide 223mn ft3/day of incremental firm service between Millennium’s existing compressor station in Corning, New York, and an existing interconnection with the Algonquin Gas Transmission system in Ramapo, New York, a distance of about 200 miles.
The entire project will be located within Millennium’s existing 244 miles of right-of-way, which extends across southern New York state from an interconnection with National Fuel Gas Supply at Independence, New York to Algonquin Gas in Ramapo. Canadian pipeline Transcanada owns 47.5% of Millennium, with co-owners DTE Energy (26.25%) and National Grid, a gas and electric utility serving Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island (26.25%).
To provide the approved service, the upgrade project will comprise about eight miles of 30- and 36-inch pipeline looping in Orange County, New York; a new 22,400 horsepower compressor station in Sullivan County, New York (the Highland compressor station); a new 22,400 horsepower compressor unit at the existing Hancock compressor station in Delaware County, New York; modifications to the existing Ramapo meter and regulator station in Rockland County, New York; modifications to the Wagoner Interconnect in Orange County, New York and an alternate interconnect to Millennium’s Valley Lateral in Orange County.
Millennium said prior to its Ferc application that it hoped to have the facilities in service by the fall of 2018.