All of a sudden proposed pipeline laterals from New England toLong Island, NY, have become all the craze, as the second pipelineproject in a week was announced yesterday, this time by TennesseeGas Pipeline Co. to serve roughly the same area. The El Pasobusiness unit announced the commencement of an open season for itsConnecticut-Long Island project, which is open for non-bindingnominations until Feb. 28.

The project, which was first announced on Jan. 22, is eerilysimilar to Duke Energy Gas Transmission’s (DEGT) and KeySpan EnergyDelivery Long Island’s (KEDLI) proposed Islander East pipeline, whichis also holding an open season until Feb. 28 (corrected from previousstory). Whether both will be built remains to be seen (see Daily GPI,Jan 30).

“I don’t think that both projects can co-exist,” said PatWhitty, managing director with DEGT. “There appears to be onlyenough market to support one northern alternative pipeline into NewYork at this time.”

The Tennessee project will provide up to 450,000 Dth/d of newtransportation capacity from the company’s interconnection withjoint facilities of Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline L.L.C. andPortland Natural Gas Transmission System Co. in Dracut, MA, andterminate in Suffolk County on eastern Long Island.

The proposed 40-mile Islander East line, which would alsoterminate in Long Island, is expected to carry 250,000 Dth/d froman interconnection with DEGT’s Algonquin Gas Transmission system inConnecticut.

Tennessee said its project will deliver to various localdistribution companies and their facilities, including Yankee GasServices, Connecticut Natural Gas, Southern Connecticut Gas andKeySpan Energy Delivery Long Island, as well as directly toproposed power generating plants along the way.

“We are pleased with the opportunities a project such as thiscan offer Tennessee Gas and the marketplace in general,” saidStephen C. Beasley, president of Tennessee Gas Pipeline. “Thisproject maximizes the opportunities to deliver energy to criticalregions by optimizing the existing pipeline and transportationassets located in these areas. A cost effective and competitivepipeline linking New England and New York will increaseflexibility, reliability and liquidity for natural gas consumers inthese markets.”

Interested shippers on the proposed Tennessee line shouldcontact Joe Wyzik with El Paso at 713-420-2369, while shippersseeking information about the Islander East project can contact PatWhitty with DEGT at 617-560-1447.

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