Key milestone for project to connect abundant, cost-effective gas supply with East Coast markets
Company expects partial service to begin during the second half of 2017; targeting full service mid-2018
Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) today reported it has reached a key
regulatory milestone toward obtaining federal approval to construct its
proposed Atlantic Sunrise expansion project – an expansion of the
existing Transco natural gas pipeline to connect abundant Marcellus gas
supplies with markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Dec. 30 published its
final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed project,
concluding that environmental impacts would be reduced to “less than
significant levels” with the implementation of mitigation measures
proposed by the company and FERC.
“The final Environmental Impact Statement underscores our collaborative
efforts to design the Atlantic Sunrise project in a manner that
minimizes environmental impacts, while fulfilling the critical need of
connecting consumers all along the East Coast with abundant,
cost-effective Pennsylvania natural gas supplies by leveraging our
existing Transco pipeline infrastructure,” said Rory Miller, senior vice
president of Williams Partners’ Atlantic-Gulf operating area.
The FERC action is a key step toward the Commission's final decision on
the project, which is expected in early 2017. Following the receipt of
all necessary regulatory approvals, Williams Partners anticipates
beginning construction on the mainline portion of the project facilities
in mid-2017. These mainline facilities will create a much-needed path
from the northern part of the Transco system to markets along the
Eastern Seaboard for a portion of the project capacity in time for the
2017-2018 heating season. Construction on the Central Penn Line, the
greenfield portion of the project, is targeted to begin early in the 3rd
Quarter of 2017, which would allow for those facilities to be placed
into service in mid-2018.
The FERC EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the project in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The FERC is the
primary approval agency and serves in a coordinating role with other
relevant agencies.
About Atlantic Sunrise
Once complete, the Atlantic Sunrise expansion will help alleviate
infrastructure bottlenecks in Pennsylvania, connecting abundant
Marcellus gas supplies with markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern
U.S. The nearly $3 billion expansion of the existing Transco natural gas
pipeline is designed to increase deliveries by 1.7 billion cubic feet
per day (enough to provide service to seven million homes). Williams
Partners’ net investment in the Atlantic Sunrise project is expected to
be approximately $1.9 billion.
Pennsylvania State University researchers forecast the Atlantic Sunrise
project to directly and indirectly support approximately 8,000 jobs in
the 10 Pennsylvania counties during the project’s construction phase,
resulting in an estimated $1.6 billion economic impact in the project
area.
Additional information about the Atlantic Sunrise project can be found
at http://atlanticsunriseexpansion.com/.
Transco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams Partners, of which
Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns controlling interests and is the general
partner. Transco is the nation’s largest and fastest-growing interstate
natural gas transmission pipeline system. It delivers natural gas to
customers through its 10,200-mile pipeline network whose mainline
extends nearly 1,800 miles between South Texas and New York City. The
system provides cost-effective natural gas services to U.S. markets in
the Southeast and Atlantic seaboard states, including major metropolitan
areas in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as international
markets.
About Williams Partners
Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ) is an industry-leading, large-cap natural
gas infrastructure master limited partnership with a strong growth
outlook and major positions in key U.S. supply basins. Williams Partners
has operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering,
processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas
liquids to petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins.
Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines
system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing
pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and
industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30
percent of U.S. natural gas. Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams (NYSE: WMB), a
premier provider of large-scale U.S. natural gas infrastructure, owns 60
percent of Williams Partners, including all of the 2 percent
general-partner interest. www.williams.com
