HomeNewsMinnesota-Wisconsin Gas Pipeline Project Awaits Regulatory Decision

Minnesota-Wisconsin Gas Pipeline Project Awaits Regulatory Decision

2/18/2025

By Mary Holcomb, Digital Editor

(P&GJ) — Northern Natural Gas Company’s Northern Lights 2025 Expansion Project is moving forward as federal regulators review its application. The project, designed to expand natural gas transportation capacity in Minnesota and Wisconsin, recently reached a key milestone with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issuing an environmental assessment (EA).

The project includes approximately 8.6 miles of pipeline extensions across four counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as minor modifications to the La Crescent compressor station. Once complete, it will provide up to 46,064 dekatherms per day of firm winter natural gas transportation capacity, supporting growing demand in the region.

The Commission was expected to issue a decision on the project in December 2024, with an in-service date targeted for November 1, 2025. However, the project remains under review.

Pipeline Route and Information
For an overview of this project and other related infrastructure developments, visit Global Energy Infrastructure.

"The additional capacity could certainly help the region, but I fear the regulatory process will push the in-service date to beyond 2025," Pipeline & Gas Journal's Editor-in-Chief Michael Reed said.

FERC staff concluded in the Environmental Assessment review that the project would not constitute major federal action significantly affecting the environment.

The planned pipeline expansions include:

  • 3.0-mile extension of the 36-inch Lake Mills to Albert Lea E-line (MN)
  • 2.43-mile extension of the 30-inch Elk River 3rd Branch Line (MN)
  • 1.91-mile non-contiguous extension of the 30-inch Farmington to Hugo C-Line (MN)
  • 1.28-mile extension of the 8-inch Tomah Branch Line Loop (WI)

Additional work will involve valve installations, pigging facilities, tie-in removals, and abandonment of a 275-foot segment of the existing Elk River 3rd Branch Line.

The Northern Lights 2025 Expansion Project will require 177.2 acres of land for construction and 47.9 acres for ongoing operations. During construction, approximately 37.6 acres of workspace, including 23.4 acres for operations, will overlap with existing pipeline rights-of-way and project facilities. The company plans to use a 90-foot or 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way to install pipeline via trenching.

With U.S. natural gas infrastructure expanding to accommodate increased consumption and market growth, the Northern Lights 2025 Expansion Project represents a critical investment in reliability and capacity. By enhancing existing pipeline infrastructure, Northern aims to support regional energy needs while maintaining environmental and regulatory compliance.

Northern Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, operates a vast pipeline network that spans across 14,300 miles, delivering natural gas across the United States. The system is equipped with 55 compressor stations to maintain the pressure and flow of gas throughout its extensive network. In 2023, the total deliveries amounted to 1.33 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas, with a market area design capacity of 6.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/day) and a field area design capacity of 1.7 Bcf/day.

The pipeline network serves over 2,400 receipt and delivery points. With 300 shippers, the system operates under a maximum pressure range between 50 and 1,600 pounds per square inch gauge (psig). Northern also boasts an underground storage capacity of 75.1 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which is spread across one aquifer and two depleted oil/gas fields. In addition, the company has 4 Bcf of liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage capacity, housed within two cryogenic facilities, which provide peaking support for the system.

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