Iroquois Gas Transmission System’s long-awaited Eastchester Extension began transporting natural gas across Long Island Sound into New York City last Thursday. Iroquois called it an “important and historic event” for the Big Apple, noting that the extension was the first major gas transmission pipeline built into New York City in some 40 years.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave its clearance last Tuesday for the start-up of the Eastchester line, putting into operation a project that has been in the works for nearly four nears.

The extension of the Iroquois system will supply as much as 230 MMcf/d of Canadian gas to generation customers and traditional gas users in the New York City market. The 36.5-mile pipeline extends from Iroquois’ existing mainline at North Point, Long Island, across Long Island Sound to Consolidated Edison facilities at Hunts Point in the South Bronx, north of Manhattan.

“By bringing in a new supply of gas, the Eastchester pipeline reinforces the city’s energy grid in the Bronx and enhances the reliability of the city’s gas supplies,” said Iroquois Pipeline President Jay Holm. He noted that the marine portion of the extension can be “economically expanded to upwards of 750 MMcf/d” to meet growing demand.

Iroquois spokeswoman Anita Flanagan reported that Eastchester had nominations for only 57 MMcf/d of service on the first day of operation, which is one-fourth of the line’s full capacity.

The extended line initially had been targeted for start-up nearly a year ago, but the in-service date was pushed back because of additional work that had to be done on the marine portion of the extension, Flanagan said.

FERC certificated the Iroquois Eastchester Extension in December 2001, but actual construction on the project did not begin until a year later in November 2002, she noted.

The Iroquois pipeline system transports more than 1 Bcf/d of natural gas from western Canada into the northeastern region of the United States.

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