Spectra Energy (ticker: SE, exchange: New York Stock Exchange (.N))
News Release -
10-Jun-2008
Spectra Energy's Algonquin Gas Transmission Files FERC Application for East to West Expansion ProjectProject to Bring New, Incremental Supplies of LNG to Northeast United StatesHOUSTON, June 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE)
subsidiary Algonquin Gas Transmission (Algonquin) today announced it has
submitted an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
for its East to West Expansion Project. The project will direct significant
new supplies of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the eastern end
of the Algonquin system into high-growth markets in the Northeast United
States, including New England, New York and New Jersey, by November 2009.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061030/CLM051LOGO )
One of five large-scale pipeline expansion projects Spectra Energy and its
subsidiaries have underway in the region, the East to West Project will
increase the Algonquin system's current transportation capacity by more than
746 million cubic feet per day.
The project also provides the company the flexibility to reverse flow on
its system, transforming traditional gas flow in the Northeast. This will
offer added supply security for the region, more competitive pricing options,
and increased operational flexibility for the overall system and interstate
transmission grid.
Algonquin has executed firm, long-term agreements with shippers, including
suppliers and local distribution companies, for the full capacity amount.
These shippers, and all existing customers, will be able to move natural gas
from new supply sources to key markets, enabling them to market their gas not
only on the Algonquin system, but also on interconnecting, third-party
pipelines. The linking of multiple sources and markets will offer significant
benefit to the entire Northeast market.
The $380 million project will include upgrades to three existing
compressor stations located in R.I., Conn. and N.J., and replacement of less
than 17 miles of existing pipeline in Mass. and Conn. New facilities will
include a compressor station to be located in Bristol County, Mass., and
approximately 13 miles of pipeline in Norfolk County, Mass. Utilizing
Algonquin's existing infrastructure and rights of way will minimize the
project's affects on landowners, communities and the environment.
Since September 2007, Algonquin has been participating in the FERC Pre-
Filing Process to provide stakeholders with opportunities to review materials
and offer input on the project. During this time, Algonquin representatives
have met with many interested stakeholders and held a number of public
meetings.
"The Northeast region's demand for natural gas is expected to grow by 25
percent or more in the next five to ten years. We are closely focused on
developing projects in the region that are sized and timed to respond to both
supplier needs to move new volumes as well as market needs to gain access to
new supplies," said Bill Yardley, group vice president, Spectra Energy
Transmission.
"Our existing systems offer ready access to all major Northeast markets
and can be expanded quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively to deliver new
supplies from diverse sources into the region," he said.
Spectra Energy will invest $1.5 billion in natural gas projects in the
Northeast between 2007 and 2009, which represents half of the company's $3
billion capital expenditures during that timeframe. Together these projects
will increase transportation capacity in the Northeast by more than 2.5
billion cubic feet per day, enough natural gas to heat 25,000 homes for a
year.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements represent our intentions,
plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events. This release
includes forward-looking statements concerning future developments at our
facilities, including the anticipated timing and amount of planned capital
expansions and anticipated future natural gas pipeline capacity as well as the
demand for such capacity. Such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors, many of which are outside our control and could cause
actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by
those forward-looking statements. Those factors include: the timing and
success of efforts to develop infrastructure projects; the timing and receipt
of required regulatory approvals; the timing and receipt of sufficient
capacity commitments for the described project; and fluctuations in the demand
for natural gas in the markets serviced by the described project. These
factors, as well as additional factors that could affect our forward-looking
statements, are described in our Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and other filings that we make with the SEC, which are
available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In light of these risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking
statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a
different time than we have described. We undertake no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
A FORTUNE 500 company, Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE) is one of North
America's premier natural gas infrastructure companies serving three key links
in the natural gas value chain: gathering and processing, transmission and
storage, and distribution. For close to a century, Spectra Energy and its
predecessor companies have developed critically important pipelines and
related energy infrastructure connecting natural gas supply sources to premium
markets. Based in Houston, Texas, the company operates in the United States
and Canada approximately 18,000 miles of transmission pipeline, 265 billion
cubic feet of storage, natural gas gathering and processing, natural gas
liquids operations and local distribution assets. Spectra Energy Corp also has
a 50-percent ownership in DCP Midstream, one of the largest natural gas
gatherers and processors in the United States. Visit www.spectraenergy.com for
more information.
SOURCE Spectra Energy
http://www.spectraenergy.com
|