Millennium Pipeline Co. LLC said Monday it has received approval from FERC to construct the proposed Hancock Compressor project in the town of Hancock in Delaware County, NY. The addition of the compressor station will allow for more Marcellus Shale gas to be pumped north to demand centers in the Northeast.

In an Oct. 4 notice, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) confirmed that Millennium has received all necessary federal authorizations for the project. Millennium received its notice to begin all construction activities on Oct. 4, based upon an implementation plan it filed with FERC on Oct. 3.

Millennium President Rocco D’Alessandro said the company looks forward to beginning construction on “this important project that will help deliver more clean, natural gas to the Northeast.”

The Hancock Compressor project will be driven by one 15,700 hp natural gas turbine, which will increase the pressure and output capacity by 107.5 MMcf/d. Anchor shippers on the project are Southwestern Energy Services Co. and WPX Energy.

Millennium said construction activities will commence immediately with a target in-service date of April 1, 2014. The company, which is jointly owned by affiliates of NiSource Inc., National Grid and DTE Energy, operates a pipeline that extends from Independence in Steuben County, NY to Ramapo in Rockland County, NY.

 Millennium Pipeline provides consumers in the Northeast with additional natural gas infrastructure to meet the growing demand for clean energy. The pipeline is supplied by local production and storage fields and interconnecting upstream pipelines, and serves customers along its route in the Southern Tier while helping to meet the energy needs of Northeast markets. Millennium Pipeline entered full service in late December 2008.