September 2010 Vol. 237 No. 9

Projects

Ruby Pipeline Receives FERC Approval To Begin Construction

El Paso Corporation’s Ruby Pipeline Project has received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to proceed and begin construction.

“We are very pleased that we have final FERC approval,” said Jim Cleary, president of El Paso’s Western Pipeline Group. “This approval is a milestone, culminating more than two and a half years of outreach and comprehensive permitting at the federal, state, and local levels. Ruby will employ almost 5,000 people from Wyoming to Oregon during construction and will provide significant economic benefits to the four states along our route for years to come.”

Ruby, the first-ever carbon-neutral pipeline to be constructed and operated, involves 680 miles of 42-inch pipeline and four compressor stations. Ruby will transport natural gas from an existing supply hub at Opal, WY to interconnections near Malin, OR. It will have an initial design capacity of 1.5 Bcf/d.
El Paso has entered into agreements with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), whereby GIP will invest up to $700 million in the project. Upon satisfaction of various closing conditions, GIP will acquire a 50% equity interest in the project.