TransCanada Files Eastern Mainline Project Description to NEB
TransCanada Corp. has begun the regulatory process with its Eastern Mainline Project. The company filed a project description with the Canadian National Energy Board for the proposed project to add new facilities to its existing Canadian Mainline natural gas transmission system in southeastern Ontario. The Eastern Mainline Project is aimed at ensuring TransCanada can accommodate growing demand and new supplies of natural gas from the U.S. Northeast.
“This new pipeline infrastructure will be a vital addition to the Canadian Mainline system to meet the needs of Ontario and Quebec gas consumers,” said Russ Girling, TransCanada’s president and CEO. “We are committed to ensuring that gas transmission capacity is available to meet the needs of customers and that the cost of serving those customers does not increase as a result of the transfer of a portion of the Canadian Mainline to Energy East.”
Ontario and Quebec gas customers will continue to get the gas they need to heat their homes, especially during the cold winter months, Girling added.
The proposed scope of the project will ensure appropriate levels of capacity are available to meet the requirements of existing shippers as well as the new firm service commitments contracted by TransCanada for services in the Eastern Triangle segment of the Canadian Mainline.
The project requirements are the result of the proposed transfer of a portion of the Canadian Mainline capacity to crude oil service from natural gas service as part of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East Pipeline Project and an open season that closed on Jan. 15. The project description proposes the construction of as much as 370 km of up to 36-in. diameter pipe and associated compression facilities adjacent to existing Mainline facilities between the Markham and South Dundas Township in Eastern Ontario.
Discussions between TransCanada and shippers are ongoing to determine the appropriate amount of capacity that will be required.
The proposed Eastern Mainline Project will allow TransCanada shippers that have historically used short term contracts to use firm service to meet their long-term needs. TransCanada will ensure that customers continue to receive reliable and fairly priced transportation services through the addition of facilities in this section of the Canadian Mainline.
“Our teams have been busy over the last year meeting with thousands of people in communities across all six provinces to explain the benefits of the Energy East Project,” Girling said. “We remain focused on continuing to gather the public’s input to ensure we address local issues in our planning and design not only for Energy East, but also for the Eastern Mainline Project. Outreach for the Eastern Mainline Project will begin in the coming weeks.”
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