Horizon Pipeline, a joint venture of Nicor Inc. and Kinder Morgan’s Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) three years in the making, has begun delivering gas in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, ahead of rival project Guardian Pipeline. Gas began flowing through the $80 million Horizon line May 11 following final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) (see NGI, May 13).

First announced in May of 1999, the project was constructed to deliver 380 MMcf/d from just south of Chicago to the northeastern part of the state and into Wisconsin (see NGI, May 31, 1999). It was certicated by FERC in July, 2001.

The Horizon line went head to head with a nearly identical proposed pipeline, Guardian, which is being sponsored by LDC Wisconsin Gas and its parent company Wicor, CMS Energy and Viking Gas Transmission. Despite some permit and land acquisition issues, a Guardian spokeswoman said that 142-mile, 750 MMcf/d pipeline system will remain on schedule for an in-service date later this year (see NGI, April 29). Construction was scheduled to start June 1.

“The completion of this project is key for the continued economic development of this region,” said Daniel R. Dodge, vice president of Nicor- Horizon and Nicor’s vice president of business development. “This pipeline enables Nicor to meet the growing energy demand for natural gas in northern Illinois.”

Last November, construction began on 28 miles of 36-inch diameter pipe, that is combined with 46 miles of existing piping leased from NGPL, as well as the installation of gas compression facilities in Joliet. The Horizon Pipeline has a capacity of 380 MMcf/d and connects the supply hub at Joliet with the northern part of the Nicor Gas distribution system and the NGPL pipeline system.

“In addition to meeting the needs of traditional loads for customers in northern Illinois, Horizon serves as an important component of our ongoing strategy to continue serving additional natural gas-fired electric generations,” said Scott Parker, vice president of NGPL and Horizon. “Through Horizon, NGPL and Nicor are well positioned to provide upstream transportation and services into the Elgin Energy Center and we expect to support additional gas-fired generations in the future.”

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