FERC has approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC’s (TGP) Connecticut Expansion Project, which would expand delivery capability to the Northeast, accessing supply from the Marcellus Shale.

The project [CP14-529] would augment the pipeline’s existing system in three states (New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut) to expand delivery capability to the northeast by up to 72.1 MMcf/d. Three pipeline loops would be constructed totaling about 13 miles on the pipeline’s existing 200 and 300 Lines. Modifications would also be made to an existing compressor station in Hampden County, MA. Appurtenant facilities would also be installed along the mainline loops.

TGP applied for the project certificate in summer 2014 (see Shale Daily, Aug. 15, 2014), and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff issued a favorable environmental assessment last fall (see Shale Daily, Oct. 26, 2015).

The pipeline told FERC that it has binding precedent agreements with three anchor shippers — Connecticut Natural Gas Corp., Southern Connecticut Gas Co. and Yankee Gas Services Co. — for all of the project capacity.

Construction is expected to be completed this fall so that the additional gas supplies would be available for the 2016-2017 winter heating season, according to the project page on TGP parent Kinder Morgan Inc.’s website.