The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted two certificates for natural gas pipeline projects in the Southeastern U.S. One certificate went to Southern Natural Gas Co. for construction of a controversial pipeline to serve two municipal customers; a second was issued to Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. for the largest single expansion of its pipeline and storage system.
The FERC on May 28 voted 5-0 to grant a certificate to Southern Natural Gas Co. to construct approximately 118 miles of natural gas pipeline to serve two municipal customers. The hotly contested determinations surrounding the project were made in a series of three orders (Docket Nos. CP96-153-002 and
CP96-153-000).
The municipalities, Huntsville and Decatur, both in Alabama, were captive gas customers of Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas Co. and desired gas transportation services from alternative suppliers. Alabama-Tennessee had objected to those efforts, because the two customers make up almost one-half of its system load. Also, the proposed route of the pipeline was subject to disagreement because of the environmental impacts.