Williams’ Northwest Pipeline has filed with FERC to expand delivery capacity from Sumas at the Canadian border to Chehalis, WA, and in the Plymouth-to-Washougal, WA corridor (Columbia River Gorge corridor). The $240 million Evergreen Expansion Project is aimed at meeting demands of existing customers, as well as new generation load.

Northwest will add 67,000 hp at five compressor stations and four sections of new pipeline loops, totaling 28 miles to add 276,000 Dth/d of new delivery capacity in the Sumas-Chehalis corridor. This will serve an additional 1,900 MW of power generation plants.

To increase the north flow capacity by 54,000 Dth/d for existing firm shippers, another 24,000 hp will be installed at five compressor stations within the Columbia River Gorge corridor. The added delivery capability also will reduce existing firm shippers’ reliance on displacement capacity, according to Greg Snow, Northwest’s project manager of business development. The company first announced it would be going forward with the project in June, after holding an open season last December. Northwest already has three other expansion projects in the works.

Pending approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Evergreen Expansion will start construction next summer with the Sumas-Chehalis segment completed in June, 2003, and the Columbia River Gorge additions finished in time for the 2003-2004 winter heating season.

Northwest’s rival, PG&E Gas Transmission already has received FERC approval for a 210,800 Dth/d expansion to import more Canadian gas for power generators on the West Coast. It plans to construct 20.7 miles of 42-inch diameter pipe parallel to its existing mainlines, which extend from Kingsgate, BC, southward 612 miles to Malin, OR. It also intends to add 97,500 horsepower at five existing compressor stations.

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