FERC approves Pacific Northwest gas pipeline expansion

During yesterday’s meeting, officials with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project expansion without making any comments.

Since first being proposed in 2019, the project from operator TC Energy, has been controversial. Today’s decision to install three new compressor stations along the pipeline route will increase the reliability and capacity to ship gas. The plan has drawn criticism from a host of environmental groups and tribes, as well as senators and governors in Washington and Oregon and all three West Coast attorney’s general. Increasing long term reliance on natural gas is at odds with states’ climate goals and laws, elected officials say.

The pipeline upgrades approved on Thursday would allow for the additional transport of approximately 150 million ft³/d of additional methane gas for use in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. The US$75 million in upgrades would be paid for by ratepayers. Idaho’s congressional delegation have written letters supporting the expansion. “The GTN XPress project will play a critical role in keeping energy affordable and reliable for consumers in California and the Pacific Northwest. We appreciate FERC’s bipartisan action today to approve the project and will work diligently to place it into service as soon as possible,” said Michael Tadeo, a spokesperson with TC Energy.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/20102023/ferc-approves-pacific-northwest-gas-pipeline-expansion/