June 2025, Vol. 252, No. 6
Projects
Projects June 2025
Kinder Morgan Proposes 3-State Pipeline Expansion
Kinder Morgan introduced plans for a multibillion-dollar expansion of its existing natural gas pipeline system in the southeastern U.S. in February, according to Augusta-Aiken WRDW-TV.
The proposal calls for 290 miles of pipelines and the addition of 14 new segments. These lines would stretch across Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. The plan also includes upgrades to 13 compressor stations and the installation of four new metering facilities to manage and measure gas flow.
“This is an expansion of an existing natural gas pipeline system that we have operated in Georgia for over 50 years,” Allen Fore, vice president of Kinder Morgan, told Augusta-Aiken WRDW-TV. “It’s designed to increase natural gas supply for the region.”
The South System 4 Expansion, is designed to meet long-term energy demand, even for those who don’t directly use natural gas at home.
“Natural gas is a key source for generating electricity,” Fore added. “So even if you don’t have a gas stove or heater, your lights are likely powered by it. Everyone benefits.”
If regulatory approvals are granted, operations are expected to begin between in 2028 or 2029.
Williams to Revive Constitution, NESE Pipeline Projects
Williams announced its efforts with federal and state regulators to revive two previously canceled natural gas pipelines from Pennsylvania to New York.
The pipelines are the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and New York and the Constitution Pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York.
Williams canceled Constitution in 2020 after years of fighting for permits from New York regulators and canceled NESE in 2024 after fighting for permits from regulators in both New York and New Jersey.
The company sought to revive the projects after gaining support from the Trump administration.
The administration lifted a month-old stop-work order on May 19 on Norwegian energy company Equinor's $5 billion Empire Wind offshore wind project off New York.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who issued the stop-work order on Empire Wind in April, said he was encouraged that New York Governor Kathy Hochul will now allow new gas pipeline capacity to move forward.
Hochul, who wanted the Trump administration to lift the stop-work order on the offshore wind farm, did not specifically endorse the gas pipes but said in a statement that New York would work with the U.S. administration and private entities on projects that meet the legal requirements under state law.
A spokesperson at Williams told Reuters in an email that the company “has submitted a petition to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for reinstatement of the certificate of public convenience and necessity for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project.”
Canada Confirms Work on 559-Mile Prince Rupert Pipeline
Work on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission natural gas pipeline project is substantially underway, the provincial government said on June 5.
That means a 2014 environmental assessment certificate for the project will remain in effect indefinitely, unless suspended or canceled under the Environmental Assessment Act, according to British Columbia government.
The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office launched a review process late last year to examine whether work had started, considering site inspections, documentation from PRGT and input from local First Nations.
The 559-mile (900-km) project starts at Hudson’s Hope in northeastern B.C. and extends to Lelu Island near Prince Rupert on Canada’s Pacific Coast.
The project was acquired from TC Energy by the Nisga’a First Nation and the Western LNG in March 2024 to supply natural gas to the proposed 12 mtpa Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas facility.
The assessment certificate required that the project show substantial progress by Nov. 25, 2024.
The government said compliance and enforcement officers will continue to monitor the PRGT project throughout construction and operation to ensure it meets all environmental requirements.
New Transco Expansion Plans Address Virginia’s Demand
Williams unveiled a major expansion of its Transco pipeline network with the newly announced Power Express project, a 950 MMcf/d expansion aimed at meeting surging power generation needs in Virginia. The project is slated to enter service by the third quarter of 2030.
The Transco pipeline delivers natural gas through a 10,000-mile interstate transmission pipeline system extending from south Texas to New York City. The pipeline system transports approximately 15% of the nation’s natural gas.
The expansion underscores the pipeline operator’s strategy to support rapidly growing electricity markets increasingly driven by data centers and AI infrastructure, which require reliable and scalable natural gas capacity.
“We are encouraged by what we see on the data center opportunity front,” Alan Armstrong, president and CEO of Williams, said in the company's first-quarter 2025 results. “Our acquisition of a minority interest in Cogentrix Energy enhances our market intelligence and gives us line of sight into how we can better serve the growing power markets with gas supply.”
The company highlighted Power Express as one of several high-return projects in development as part of its first quarter earnings results. The expansion joins a growing list of Transco initiatives, including the recently completed Texas to Louisiana Energy Pathway and Southeast Energy Connector, as well as ongoing construction on the Alabama Georgia Connector.
Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Permit Decision Expected This Fall
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to decide this fall on whether it will grant a permit to Enbridge’s for Great Lakes tunnel for its Line 5 oil pipeline project.
The Army Corps issued an updated timeline on the project, including the 30-day public comment period held May 30 to June 3, followed by the decision in the fall.
The project would build a roughly 4-mile (6-km) tunnel for the 645-mile Line 5 that crosses through the Straits of Mackinac in the Great Lakes. The pipeline carries more than 20 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario.
The Army Corps has permitting authority over U.S. projects involving wetlands and waterways.
Enbridge’s Line 5 project received emergency designation from the administration, after President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency in a January. The declaration gave the Army Corps the leeway to fast-track the review process.
“Enbridge submitted project permit applications for the Great Lakes Tunnel project to state and federal regulators in April 2020 — more than five years ago,” a company spokesperson told Reuters.
Energy Transfer Nears FID on Lake Charles LNG After Signing Buyer
Energy Transfer is close to getting a thumbs up on its Lake Charles LNG project after an unspecified Japanese company decided to buy 1 mtpa of LNG from the proposed export facility.
Energy Transfer said it had already secured all of the pipeline steel for its new 442-mile (711-km) Hugh Brinson natural gas pipeline from U.S. mills. The company is considering making the pipeline bidirectional, which will be relatively inexpensive.
The first construction phase of the Hugh Brinson pipeline began in the first quarter. The project will transport natural gas from processing facilities in west Texas to existing pipeline infrastructure south of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metroplex.
In January, the administration issued an order for the U.S. to restart its apparatus for processing export permit applications for new LNG.
Energy Transfer said it has 10.5 mtpa of the 16.5 mtpa in committed LNG sales and told Reuters it confident it can get to a final investment decision before 2025 ends.
The company said it was working through estimated costs to construct the facility.
Lake Charles was the first LNG project affected by the Biden administration’s delay on the Energy Transfer license to export to countries that were not part of free trade agreements with the U.S.
Enbridge Targets 2028-29 for Deepwater Pipeline Startups
Enbridge is advancing major offshore pipeline projects and considering significant natural gas storage expansion on the U.S. Gulf Coast, underscoring its growing role in connecting Gulf production to LNG export markets, the company said.
The company reaffirmed this week that two new deepwater pipeline systems – the Canyon and Sparta projects – remain on track for startup by 2028 and 2029, respectively. The updates came during remarks from senior executives at Enbridge Day, the company’s annual investor meeting.
Enbridge plans to build, own and operate the Canyon Gathering System and Canyon Oil Pipeline System to support BP’s Kaskida development. The $700-million project includes a 12-inch natural gas line capable of transporting up to 125 MMcf/d and a 200,000 bpd oil line. Both pipelines are scheduled to enter service by 2029.
In addition, the company is developing the Sparta Gas Pipeline and Sparta Oil Pipeline in partnership with Shell. The 50-50 joint venture projects are expected to begin service in 2028. The Sparta Gas Pipeline will move up to 30 MMcf/d of gas, while the Sparta Oil Pipeline will transport 86,000 bpd.
“Our offshore activities are just one part of our growing and formidable presence on the Gulf Coast,” said Cynthia Hansen, executive vice president and president of Gas Transmission and Midstream at Enbridge.
The company also disclosed expansion potential for its Gulf Coast gas storage portfolio. Enbridge currently operates about 105 Bcf of working gas capacity across its Tres Palacios, Moss Bluff, Egan and Bobcat facilities. Hansen said an additional 24 Bcf of capacity could be added, enhancing Enbridge’s position as LNG demand continues to climb.
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