After both projects received preliminary approval from FERC over a month ago, the ongoing race to Florida accross the Gulf of Mexico between Coastal Corp.’s Gulfstream Natural Gas System and Williams and Duke Energy’s Buccaneer pipeline is heating up again (see NGI, May 1). Gulfstream yesterday announced it signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Manatee County Port Authority for a permanent right-of-way easement to cross through Port Manatee

Gulfstream initially will pay $1.48 million for the landfall toFlorida which will include the use of port services and acreage. Onchoosing Port Manatee for a landfall, the company said that theproject will have minimal impact to Florida’s coastline andenvironment. According to the agreement, Gulfstream also plans onleasing upwards of 190 acres of land in Port Manatee to use as astaging construction site. The leased acreage will be used as alogistics base for the project.

The proposed $1.7 billion Gulfstream project would deliver 1.1Bcf/d of gas to customers in central and eastern Florida through744 miles of pipe extending from Mobile Bay offshore Alabama.Pipeline officials say they have firm transportation agreementswith 10 large, non-affiliated Florida utilities and powergenerators.

“I think this is a major step forward,” said Coastal’s JoeMartucci. “Gulfstream has a superior route and strong marketcommitments. The key thing is, everything remains on schedule forour June 2002 in-service date,” he added.

Alex Steis

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