The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved Florida Power & Light Co.’s (FPL) contracts for a planned 600 m pipeline system to bring more natural gas into the state, a critical component to Florida’s energy future. Commissioner Julie Brown said, “The need for this project is indisputable at this time.”
The US$ 3.5 billion project will join Florida’s two existing pipelines, the larger one owned by Florida Gas Transmission Co. LLC, and the other owned by Gulfstream, Natural Gas System LLC.
Investment in natural gas infrastructure
The third major natural gas pipeline will increase Florida’s capacity by 20%. The utility gas consumption is expected to rise from 600 bcf in 2012 to at least 719 bcf in 2017.
PSC Chairman Ronals A. Brise said, “The commission had already determined that additional gas capacity was necessary to meet the growing electricity needs of Floridians. He added, “Today’s approval of FPL’s investment in natural gas infrastructure will benefit all Floridians by securing the state’s energy sector.”
The pipeline is expected to be in service by 2017 and will run from Alabama through to the heart of the Florida Peninsula, enabling the state to tap more of the nation’s growing gas resourced. The new pipeline system is also expected to help create jobs to support its construction.
Construction of the pipeline
In July, Florida Power & Light chose Spectra Energy to build the 465 m northern portion of the line, which will run through parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida to a gas hub near Orlando. NextEra will develop the smaller, shorter southern portion, which will run from Orlando to FPL’s Martin Country station.
Edited from various sources by Hannah Priestley-Eaton