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2001 News Releases
Date: February 22, 2001
FERC
Grants Certificate to Gulfstream Natural Gas System
HOUSTON — The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission has approved the issuance of an order
authorizing the construction and operation of the Gulfstream
Natural Gas System, L.L.C., a joint interstate natural gas
pipeline development of Williams (NYSE:WMB) and Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK),
to transport 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to
growing markets in the state of Florida.
Pre-construction activities are
underway for the $1.6 billion pipeline project. The project is
scheduled to be placed into service in June 2002.
"This is a momentous day for
the Gulfstream project and the Florida customers it will
serve," said Robert B. Evans, chairman, Gulfstream Natural
Gas System. Evans is also president of Duke Energy Gas
Transmission. "We are appreciative that the FERC has
approved the issuance of an order in the time period requested.
The FERC, along with all of the federal, state and local
authorities in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, have processed
this application diligently over the past 16 months. Their
approval will allow us to help meet Florida’s growing demand
for cleaner burning natural gas."
Gulfstream filed its FERC
application in October 1999. Since then dozens of public
meetings have been held across Florida and Alabama to solicit
feedback and address questions associated with the project.
"We gratefully acknowledge
the effort displayed by all of the interested parties which
culminated in today’s FERC approval," said Gary D.
Lauderdale, senior vice president, Gulfstream Natural Gas
System. Lauderdale is also senior vice president and general
manager of Williams’ Transco pipeline system. "Gulfstream
is committed to working with all federal, state and local
agencies to construct this vital project in a manner sensitive
to the needs of the environmental resources and landowners along
the route."
Gulfstream’s proposed 753-mile pipeline will originate onshore
in Mississippi and Alabama, cross the Gulf of Mexico and make
landfall in Manatee County, Fla., extending across the state.
The project is designed primarily to serve Florida utilities and
power-generation facilities that will use high-efficiency,
natural gas turbines to meet the incremental demand for electric
energy. Florida officials project that the state will need an
additional 25 percent of electric-generating capacity by 2007.
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