Kinder Morgan withdraws application for Marcellus pipeline

Kinder Morgan has formally withdrawn its federal application for a pipeline to carry Marcellus shale gas from Pennsylvania to New England.

The company filed the application for the 420-mi, 2.2-Bcf Northeast Energy Direct pipeline six months ago with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

One month ago, it told FERC it would "suspend further work and expenditures" on the project, due to insufficient capacity commitments from buyers.

"Given these market conditions, continuing to develop the project is not an acceptable use of shareholder funds," a Kinder Morgan spokesman said.

The pipeline has encountered strong opposition from environmentalists and landowners, although it has been generally supported by natural gas distributors, electrical utilities and industry groups.

Other pipelines are proposed to increase gas deliveries to Massachusetts. These projects include lines proposed by Spectra in the eastern portion of the state, as well as a planned Kinder Morgan segment in the Berkshires dubbed the Connecticut Expansion.

Comments

{{ error }}
{{ comment.comment.Name }} • {{ comment.timeAgo }}
{{ comment.comment.Text }}