Gulfstream Natural Gas System LLC placed into service Monday the Phase III expansion of its its natural gas pipeline system in Florida, according to its notice to FERC.

The expansion, which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved for service in late August, extends Gulfstream’s 691-mile pipeline by 34.3 miles from the line’s terminus in Martin County, FL, to Palm Beach County (see Daily GPI, Aug. 25).

The 30-inch diameter expanded pipeline will provide firm transportation service for Florida Power & Light Co.’s (FPL) proposed greenfield power generation station, known as the West County Energy Center, in Palm Beach County [CP00-b-014]. Two natural gas-fired 1,250 MW generation units are under construction at the center and are scheduled to be in service between 2009 and 2010, according to the Florida utility. A third power generation unit is due to become operational in 2011.

FPL, the anchor shipper on the Phase III expansion, has executed an agreement for the entire expansion capacity (345,000 Dth/d) for a term of 23 years, according to Gulfstream.

Under Gulfstream’s agreement with FPL, 185,000 Dth/d is available immediately to supply FPL’s initial fuel needs for the West County Energy Center. The full capacity of 345,000 Dth/d is expected to be available by June 1, 2009.

In addition, Gulfstream said it plans to place in operation in the near term a Phase IV expansion of its system, which includes approximately 17.8 miles of 20-inch pipeline in Tampa Bay connecting the existing Gulfstream pipeline to Progress Energy’s Bartow power plant in Pinellas County, FL (see Daily GPI, Sept. 12, 2007). The Phase IV project, which also involves the installation of additional compression in Coden, AL, and Manatee County, FL, will provide 155,000 Dth/d to the Bartow facility, which has been converted from oil to gas.

Placed in service in May 2002, Gulfstream, which is jointly owned by Spectra Energy and Williams, delivers 1.1 Bcf/d of gas, serving the central and southeastern Florida markets. The Phase III expansion pushes the pipeline farther into the southern part of the Sunshine State, while the Phase IV project increases service to the west-central part of the state.

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