Two Connecticut-to-Long Island natural gas pipeline projects — the jointly sponsored Islander East Pipeline and an Iroquois Gas Transmission expansion — will face potential delays at the state level as a result of a recent executive order issued by Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, according to the state’s Siting Council. But the pipelines doubt this will hold up their projects at FERC.

The executive order bars state agencies from making final decisions about the construction of large-scale natural gas pipeline and electric transmission projects running through the state and particularly those crossing Long Island Sound, pending the completion of a task-force report on the environmental effects of the projects (and other transmission issues) in January 2003. The governor’s order would permit one power transmission project (Cross Sound Cable) to proceed, but the Connecticut Legislature has forwarded a bill to Rowland that includes Cross Sound in the project moratorium.

Derek Phelps, executive director of the Connecticut Siting Council, told NGI that state action on the East Islander Pipeline project and Iroquois Gas expansion would be held in abeyance as a result of the executive order. The siting council, which evaluates the adverse environmental effects of gas and power projects, would be prohibited from sending final recommendations to FERC on proposed project mitigation measures until next January under the order, he said.

Even without the state’s input, however, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with jurisdiction over interstate gas and power lines, still could move ahead and approve the interstate Islander East and Iroquois Gas projects, as well as any other natural gas and electric transmission expansions that might fall under Rowland’s order, Phelps said.

The executive order requires the head of the eight-member task force to ask FERC not to approve any future or pending gas and electric transmission projects in Connecticut or between Connecticut and nearby states until the task force has submitted its report in January 2003. But this “certainly would not be binding” on FERC, he noted.

The Islander East Pipeline project, which is jointly sponsored by Duke Energy Gas Transmission (Algonquin Gas Transmission) and KeySpan Energy Delivery Long Island, does not anticipate any delays as a result of the Connecticut governor’s action, said Islander East spokesman John Sheridan. “We have every confidence that the federal agency [FERC]…will continue to move forward” with the 50-mile pipeline, he noted, adding that Islander East still expects to receive a certificate from FERC by July.

Nor does Iroquois expect Rowland’s moratorium to delay its project at FERC, said spokeswoman Anita Flanagan. “We filed our project with FERC in December, and it usually takes one year to go through that process,” she noted, adding that by that time Rowland’s moratorium will have nearly run its course.

The Iroquois project calls for the construction of 20 miles of 24-inch diameter marine pipeline from Milford, CT, to Shoreham, LI, and points farther inland as the market demands.

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