A $1 billion construction project could bring increased
access to natural gas to millions of homes and more than 2,000 jobs to the
Eastern Pennsylvania region.
PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC of Wyomissing said PSEG Power
LLC, a subsidiary of the Public Service Enterprise Group, is the latest company
to join a project to develop a 100-mile pipeline from Pennsylvania to New
Jersey that would transport lower cost natural gas produced in the Marcellus
Shale region to homes in Eastern Pennsylvania.
The project is designed to provide natural gas service to
4.7 million homes, up to 1 billion cubic feet per day.
If approved, the pipeline would begin in Luzerne County
in Northeastern Pennsylvania and end at Transco’s Trenton-Woodbury
interconnection in New Jersey.
In Pennsylvania, the preliminary route would run from
Luzerne through Carbon County, Northampton County and Bucks County.
PSEG, based in Newark, N.J., is the fifth member company
sponsoring the project, said Patricia Kornick, project spokeswoman for PennEast
Pipeline Co.
“PSEG Power LLC will have a 12 percent interest in
PennEast and the other PennEast Pipeline Company members each will have a 22
percent interest,” Kornick said this morning.
PennEast was formed by the partnership of AGL Resources,
NJR Pipeline Co., South Jersey Industries and UGI Energy Services, which
combined are investing nearly $1 billion to build the pipeline.
Since this is an interstate natural gas pipeline, the
project needs multiple levels of approvals, including local, state and federal.
PennEast has begun preliminary engineering studies, and
will file a formal application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) in 2015.
On Oct. 1, the company plans to do a pre-filing followed
by the formal filing in the spring of 2015, Kornick said.
UGI Energy Services is the project manager for the
development of the project and will operate the pipeline.
“We anticipate construction starting in early 2017 and
for the line to be in service in late 2017, Kornick said.
PennEast Pipeline Co. is planning to schedule open houses
possibly for the week of Nov. 10, to discuss the project and allow the public
to ask questions. The meeting places have yet to be determined, she said.
Aside from providing greater access to natural gas, the
project would benefit the region's economy, according to Kornick.
“Historically, there has been a very strong economic
benefit,” Kornick said. “We will be using a local construction workforce as
feasible. “Throughout the construction phase, we are anticipating 2,000 job
opportunities.”
PennEast expects construction to last seven months.
Source: LVB.com
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