Central Maine Power and New York State Electric and Gas haveformed a joint venture, called CMP Natural Gas, to provide newlocal gas distribution service to communities in Maine. The newdistribution grid would become one of the largest infrastructureprojects in the state in more than four decades.

CMP has targeted seven cities for initial study, includingAugusta, Bangor, Bath, Brunswick, Bethel, North Windham andWaterville, but other communities are also possible, according toCMP. “Right now we’re focusing on the largest customers –industrial and large commercial users — to anchor the project,”said Darrel Quimby with Central Maine Power. He expects CMP to gain35,000 customers within the first five years, or by 2004, and move20 MMDth/year.

The new gas-distribution lines would be supplied by two newpipeline projects: the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System(PNGTS), anticipated to be in service this November, and theMaritimes and Northeast Pipeline from Nova Scotia, expected to bein service in November, 1999.

So far CMP has formed alliances with four companies as theirprime contracts to develop the system: Cianbro Corp. to build thepipe; The James W. Sewall Co. to providing mapping and informationservices; and Northstar Energy to design and construct gasmeasurement and regulation stations.

Sarah McKinley

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