Connecting U.S. West to world gas

A liquefied natural gas terminal proposed for Oregon is seen as a primary supply source for a planned pipeline to serve the U.S. Pacific Northwest, northern Nevada and California.

The proponents are all partners in the Alliance Pipeline from northern British Columbia to Chicago.

Fort Chicago Energy Partners (the 50 percent owner of Alliance), Williams’ Northwest Pipeline and Pacific Gas & Electric plan to be equal partners in the 250-mile Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, which is scheduled for completion in 2010 with capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day through various interconnects with other pipelines.

The companies said they will have access to the Jordan Cove LNG terminal in Coos Bay, Ore., which is being developed by Fort Chicago, and other worldwide gas sources expected to reach West Coast markets.

Environmental assessments along the route will start in March once an application is filed with the U.S. Federal Regulatory Commission.

The proponents said Pacific Connector would provide “competitive and reliable alternatives to existing supplies” from Canada, the U.S. Southwest and U.S. Rocky Mountain regions which are “increasingly being pursued to supply eastern U.S. markets.”

Fort Chicago President Stephen White said the partnership can “form a foundational bridge between the Jordan Cove LNG terminal and the substantial markets located throughout the Pacific Northwest, California and elsewhere in the western U.S.”

—Gary Park