Williams and BC Hydro applied to federal regulators on both sides of the Canadian border Tuesday to build a 94 MMcf/d natural gas transmission pipeline in the state of Washington, underwater in the Georgia Strait and on Vancouver Island in Canada to serve power plants in the area. With sufficient regulatory approvals, construction of the $159 million project could start in the fall of 2002 with operation of the pipeline beginning a year later.

Williams filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and BC Hydro with the Canadian National Energy Board (NEB) for a project that proposes to build a 32-mile, 20-inch-diameter pipeline from Sumas, WA, to Cherry Point, WA, and a 41-mile, 16-inch-diameter pipeline under the Strait at depths up to 1,050 feet to Vancouver. The U.S. pipeline route mostly parallels existing natural gas transmission lines in Sumas, Lynden, Ferndale and Birch Bay, WA. On the island, the pipeline will travel about 10 miles to interconnect with the existing Centra Gas transmission system.

BC Hydro expects the added fuel for power generation to allow it to provide “reliable electricity with among the very lowest rates in North America.” Dough Whisenant, senior vice president and general manager of Williams Gas Pipeline-West, said the project not only helps British Columbia, but also will increase the supplies available for industrial customers in the northwest part of the state of Washington.

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