The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave the green light last week for Tuscarora Gas Transmission to put into operation the first phase of its system expansion in Nevada and California.

The Phase I facilities, which include 10.5 miles of pipeline, will provide service this heating season to all of Tuscarora’s prospective expansion shippers, with the exception of Duke Energy North America LLC’s proposed 540 MW Washoe generating plant in Nevada. This phase will offer 55,912 Dth/d of additional firm transportation service to Sierra Pacific Power Co., Southwest Gas Corp. and Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc.

The Phase II portion of the expansion calls for the construction of a 3.7-mile lateral to transport an additional 40,000 Dth/d to Duke Energy’s planned Washoe plant. The entire expansion, both phases, will include the addition of 24,637 horsepower of compression and minor associated facilities.

The Commission’s April order approving the bifurcation of the expansion requires the Phase II facilities to be in-service by the spring of 2004, but the pipeline has indicated it expects to have gas flowing by late 2003 (CP01-153-003).

The 229-mile pipeline delivers gas from the Oregon-California border to northern Nevada. It is owned by Tuscarora Gas Pipeline Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources, TC PipeLines and TCPL Tuscarora Ltd.

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