FERC has called on staff to convene a technical conference toreview various options to “resolve the jurisdictional and policyissues” posed by the proposed TriState Pipeline project. TheCommission issued an order calling for the conference after itfailed to act last week on TriState’s request for “expeditedrehearing” of a May decision in which it shelved theChicago-to-Dawn Hub project as proposed and suggested other optionsfor the sponsors to pursue.

As part of its project, TriState – which is sponsored by CMS GasTransmission and Storage and Westcoast Energy – seeks to lease 123miles of pipeline (saving $179 million) from Consumers Energy. Theleased Consumers Energy line would be operated by Consumers,according to the sponsors, and would perform a “dual-use” role asboth an interstate and state-regulated intrastate transporter,which caused FERC to have jurisdictional concerns about theproject.

Although “we are willing to consider possible options inaddition to those we have suggested [in the May order], partiesshould bear in mind that with a minor exception, the Commission hasnot approved dual jurisdictional natural gas pipeline facilities,”the order said [CP99-61-001]. FERC directed staff to hold theconference within 30 days.

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