Granted

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted Empire Pipeline Inc. a certificate authorizing it to proceed with a pipeline expansion in Pennsylvania and New York that would enable Marcellus Shale production to be shipped northward on the Empire system. The certificate authorizes Empire to construct, operate and replace about 15 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline to extend the Empire Connector Pipeline, an interconnection with the facilities of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., and modifications to an existing compressor station to permit bidirectional flow on Empire’s system. Empire is a subsidiary of New York-based National Fuel Gas.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has granted a certificate to Pine Prairie Energy Center LLC to expand its Pine Prairie Natural Gas Storage salt cavern facility in Evangeline Parish, LA. The project would increase working capacity of the facility to 80 Bcf from the current 48 Bcf, including two new 12 Bcf caverns and the expansion of permitted capacity for caverns two through five to 12 Bcf from 10 Bcf each (see Daily GPI, Oct. 6, 2010). The FERC order requires Pine Prairie to hold an open season to solicit permanent capacity release offers and grants Pine Prairie’s request for continuing authorization to charge market-based rates.

In response to a filing by the energy company, a Mexican federal judge last Friday granted San Diego-based Sempra Energy’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in North Baja California a second protective order against local government officials and adjacent private landowners who have tried to shut down the Energia Costa Azul LNG terminal in past months (see NGI, Feb. 18).

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) has granted the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) consortium five years to negotiate favorable financial and policy terms with the federal government for its C$16.2 billion (US$16 billion) arctic production and pipeline scheme.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has granted Port Dolphin Energy LLC an environmental permit for its offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. When the project is completed, vessels operated by Port Dolphin parent Hoegh LNG of Norway will return LNG to a gaseous state onboard and move natural gas through the terminal’s pipeline. State lawmakers voted in November to authorize issuance of a long-term easement on state-owned submerged lands to accommodate the undersea pipeline. Port Dolphin received its federal deepwater port license in October 2009 and a certificate of public necessity and convenience from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in December 2009.

Florida regulators have granted Port Dolphin Energy LLC an environmental permit for its offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.

FERC has granted Cameron LNG LLC, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, additional year to complete and place into serve the expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Hackberry, LA.

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) has granted the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) consortium five years to negotiate favorable financial and policy terms with the federal government for its C$16.2 billion (US$16 billion) arctic production and pipeline scheme.

Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. announced Wednesday that its natural gas utility operating in Nebraska was granted an $8.7 million general rate increase by the state Public Service Commission (PSC). The new rates are effective Sept. 1 for Black Hills Energy.