The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday approved an expansion of Columbia Gas Transmission Corp.’s pipeline to provide 125,000 Dth/d of additional capacity for a new power plant at the Pennsylvania-Delaware border.

The project will provide service to FPL Energy’s 750 MW Marcus Hook power plant. The plant would be built in both New Castle County, DE, and Delaware County, PA. The $22.3 million pipeline expansion project, which is expected to be completed this fall, would involve adding an extension from the company’s mainline to the plant and upgrading compressor stations. Two 6,000 hp compressors will be added to the Eagle and Downingtown stations on its mainline in Chester County, PA, and 1.3 miles of 20-inch diameter lateral will be added from Columbia’s Delmarva meter station on Line 1-345 in New Castle County DE.

FERC said Columbia could roll in the expansion and replacement project costs with it existing rates, given that this will result in a reduction in rates for existing customers. The replacement phase of the project calls for Columbia to remove two aged compressors at its Downingtown station.

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