Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. has begun a non-binding open season through August 11 to assess market interest in additional firm capacity, which would be created by its proposed Freedom Trail expansion project. The project is scheduled to begin service in 2006.

The proposed project is designed to increase mainline capacity on Tennessee’s Line 200 located in New York and Massachusetts by 50,000 to 150,000 Dth/d, with up to an additional 40,000 horsepower of compression and up to 40 miles of new pipeline looped along existing right of way.

Freedom Trail would enable customers in the Northeast to access various supply points along Tennessee’s system including market and supply area storage, the Gulf of Mexico (Zones 0 and 1), and the Niagara Interconnect with TransCanada Pipeline.

The incremental capacity would provide service to New England as well as New York City and/or Long Island via deliveries to existing and proposed downstream pipelines directly serving these markets.

“While the Northeast experienced one of the coldest winters in recent years, we expect summer natural gas demand also will be at record levels due to additional gas-fired power generation coming online and historically low storage levels in the area,” said Stephen C. Beasley, president of Tennessee Gas Pipeline. “The Freedom Trail expansion project would enable Tennessee to minimize environmental impact by using existing pipeline easements and upgrading existing compressor stations while delivering competitively priced natural gas to these markets.”

To obtain open season request forms and guidelines, contact Jim Scabareti at (617) 217-2115 or at jim.scabareti@elpaso.com.

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