The Sandhills Pipeline, which cuts across 84 miles ofsouth-central North Carolina to link the Williams Transcontinentalinterstate pipeline with a natural gas-fired power plant underconstruction in Richmond County, NC was completed Monday, accordingto Progress Energy Inc.

The 30-inch pipeline took about five months to complete, andmost of it, about 73 miles, was built on an existing North CarolinaNatural Gas pipeline corridor, with new rights of way acquired inAnson and Richmond counties. When it begins service in June, itwill initially handle up to 300 MMcf/d. Eventually, the pipelinewill transport up to 800 MMcf/d.

CP&L, Progress’ electric utility, will operate the newRichmond County plant when it begins operation in June. CP&Lalready has an agreement with Williams for long-term gas supply offthe south-to-north Transco pipeline to the Richmond County plant,which will initially produce 620 MW. Another 625 MW of generationwill be added at the site by June 2002.

CP&L is adding more than 2,200 MW of new generation in NorthCarolina by 2003, with most of the increase at the Richmond Countysite and another plant in Rowan County, NC.

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