JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Jersey City's City Council is set to introduce ten ordinances amending the city code to specifically prohibit natural gas pipelines in certain redevelopment zones.
"Natural gas pipelines are an unwanted use in the area," each modification reads.
The ordinances are a response to the proposal by Houston-based Spectra Energy to expand a high-volume wholesale natural gas pipeline from Staten Island 16 miles through Bayonne and Jersey City.
The proposed pipeline would roughly follow the path of the Turnpike Extension through Jersey City before turning east near 18th Street to run under the Hudson River to a Con Edison plant on Manhattan's West Side.
The ordinances would amend current laws to prohibit natural gas pipelines in 10 redevelopment zones along the proposed route.
The ordinances also include small changes to procedures for reviewing building plans in the zones.
Showing posts with label Spectra Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spectra Energy. Show all posts
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Jersey City aims to stymie proposed Spectra pipeline with ordinance
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Jersey City's City Council is set to introduce ten ordinances amending the city code to specifically prohibit natural gas pipelines in certain redevelopment zones.
"Natural gas pipelines are an unwanted use in the area," each modification reads.
The ordinances are a response to the proposal by Houston-based Spectra Energy to expand a high-volume wholesale natural gas pipeline from Staten Island 16 miles through Bayonne and Jersey City.
The proposed pipeline would roughly follow the path of the Turnpike Extension through Jersey City before turning east near 18th Street to run under the Hudson River to a Con Edison plant on Manhattan's West Side.
The ordinances would amend current laws to prohibit natural gas pipelines in 10 redevelopment zones along the proposed route.
The ordinances also include small changes to procedures for reviewing building plans in the zones.
The council has already passed a resolution stating its official opposition to the Spectra proposal, and the city administration is strongly opposed to the plan.
Under federal law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is granted sole authority to approve or deny permits for interstate natural gas transportation infrastructure. If FERC grants Spectra a permit to build the pipeline, under the Natural Gas Act of 1978 the commission is entitled to invoke eminent domain against property owners unwilling to yield property to the pipeline's right-of-way, likely trumping actions like hose being taken by the City Council.
But city officials say that by formally stating that the pipeline is contrary to the city's redevelopment agenda, the ordinances would create a record of opposition to the pipeline by the council and planning officials that could benefit future litigation.
"Natural gas pipelines are an unwanted use in the area," each modification reads.
The ordinances are a response to the proposal by Houston-based Spectra Energy to expand a high-volume wholesale natural gas pipeline from Staten Island 16 miles through Bayonne and Jersey City.
The proposed pipeline would roughly follow the path of the Turnpike Extension through Jersey City before turning east near 18th Street to run under the Hudson River to a Con Edison plant on Manhattan's West Side.
The ordinances would amend current laws to prohibit natural gas pipelines in 10 redevelopment zones along the proposed route.
The ordinances also include small changes to procedures for reviewing building plans in the zones.
The council has already passed a resolution stating its official opposition to the Spectra proposal, and the city administration is strongly opposed to the plan.
Under federal law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is granted sole authority to approve or deny permits for interstate natural gas transportation infrastructure. If FERC grants Spectra a permit to build the pipeline, under the Natural Gas Act of 1978 the commission is entitled to invoke eminent domain against property owners unwilling to yield property to the pipeline's right-of-way, likely trumping actions like hose being taken by the City Council.
But city officials say that by formally stating that the pipeline is contrary to the city's redevelopment agenda, the ordinances would create a record of opposition to the pipeline by the council and planning officials that could benefit future litigation.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Spectra Energy plans Salmon River pipeline crossing
VANCOUVER, B.C. - In the footsteps of investments by the British Columbian government, Encana Corp. and TransCanada Corp., Spectra Energy Corp, a U.S. gas infrastructure company, has announced plans to start a pipeline crossing project at the Salmon River in British Columbia.
Discussions with the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans are still ongoing, according to Spectra’s manager of community and aboriginal relations, as the company deals with concerns expressed by various groups.
The project plan is to start construction in the third week of June. Construction of the river bore is expected to take about six months to complete. Spectra will drill a “pilot hole” to a depth of approximately 20 meters under the Salmon River, and then pull the pipeline through that pilot hole after it is enlarged.
Spectra is the third largest natural gas pipeline company in North America. It is expanding its gathering and processing capacity to accommodate gas from the Horn River shale, and adding storage caverns along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Between 2009 to 2012, Spectra plans a number of expansion projects to increase gathering and processing capacity in Fort Nelson, B.C., in order to accommodate gas from the Horn River basin. The company reports firm “take or pay” initial commitments from eight customers totaling 750 mmcf/day.
Discussions with the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans are still ongoing, according to Spectra’s manager of community and aboriginal relations, as the company deals with concerns expressed by various groups.
The project plan is to start construction in the third week of June. Construction of the river bore is expected to take about six months to complete. Spectra will drill a “pilot hole” to a depth of approximately 20 meters under the Salmon River, and then pull the pipeline through that pilot hole after it is enlarged.
Spectra is the third largest natural gas pipeline company in North America. It is expanding its gathering and processing capacity to accommodate gas from the Horn River shale, and adding storage caverns along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Between 2009 to 2012, Spectra plans a number of expansion projects to increase gathering and processing capacity in Fort Nelson, B.C., in order to accommodate gas from the Horn River basin. The company reports firm “take or pay” initial commitments from eight customers totaling 750 mmcf/day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Spectra Energy caves in, gives up on Islander East Pipeline
HARTFORD, Conn. - Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. and Westborough, Mass.-based National Grid USA are withdrawing their appeal to the U.S. Commerce Department to overturn Connecticut regulators' denial of environmental permits for the Islander East project, Spectra spokeswoman Toni Beck said on Feb. 26.
Spectra and National Grid had proposed a nearly 50-mile pipeline, which included a 23-mile section in Long Island Sound from Branford, Conn., through the Thimble Islands to Wading River, N.Y., on Long Island's north shore. They submitted their first application to federal officials in 2001.
The companies had appealed the permit rejections all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but justices declined to hear the case in December.
Connecticut officials claimed a final victory on Feb. 25 in their extended battle against the proposed Islander East pipeline after the project's developer withdrew its last appeal.
Spectra and National Grid had proposed a nearly 50-mile pipeline, which included a 23-mile section in Long Island Sound from Branford, Conn., through the Thimble Islands to Wading River, N.Y., on Long Island's north shore. They submitted their first application to federal officials in 2001.
The companies had appealed the permit rejections all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but justices declined to hear the case in December.
Connecticut officials claimed a final victory on Feb. 25 in their extended battle against the proposed Islander East pipeline after the project's developer withdrew its last appeal.
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