Potential Interconnections
North America
The Energy Picture
prepared by
North American Energy Working Group
June 2002
(5) North America — Future Infrastructure Developments
There are many plans to augment North American energy integration. This section contains descriptions of projects that are currently being planned, or that are being considered.
Future Infrastructure Developments — Canada
There are several new pipeline projects being considered that would expand or add to the capacity of existing natural gas pipelines in Canada, including cross-border pipelines entering the United States.
The Blue Atlantic Pipeline project is a 1,200 kilometer offshore pipeline project that would transport about 1,000 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Scotian Basin to the southern coast of Nova Scotia, continuing subsea to landing points in New York and New Jersey.
The Cartier Pipeline and Northwestern New Brunswick Pipeline projects would link the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline near Fredericton, New Brunswick, with the TransQuebec & Maritimes Pipeline, which ends near Quebec City. These pipelines would initially transport about 180 million cubic feet per day and would be over 450 kilometers total.
The Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline project would initially transport about 100 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Huntingdon, British Columbia/Sumas, Washington Border crossing to Vancouver Island. The Canadian portion of the project would be about 60 kilometers in length.
A Mackenzie Valley pipeline would bring about 800-1,500 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Mackenzie Delta to pipeline connections in Alberta which connect to the North American market.
A 400 million cubic feet per day expansion of the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline is being considered by adding compression.
The Northwinds Pipeline project is a 500 million cubic feet per day, 350 kilometer pipeline project that would originate near Kirkwall, Ontario, cross the international border near Buffalo, New York, and connect to the Ellisburg/Leidy Hub in Pennsylvania.
Future Infrastructure Developments — Mexico
Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) are evaluating the need to reinforce the cross-border transmission capability. Several studies are underway by SDG&E and CFE for new interconnections for generation between California (U.S.) and Baja California (Mexico). CFE expansion plans also include generation additions in Mexico.
In the short-term, SDG&E 230/138 kV reinforcements are increasing the import capability for Mexico by 200 MW to 400 MW. For the longer term, SDG&E is planning a 500 kV line from Rainbow to the Imperial Valley (California), which will connect with Baja California (Mexico).
Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) is working on an interconnection line from Palo Verde, Arizona, to the CFE substation located in Santa Ana, Sonora. The total capability of the line will be around 1,000 MW.
To enhance the development of the Mexican energy infrastructure, the government is fostering some areas for development by complementary private participation, such as:
New generation, co-generation and self-supply electric plants.
New mechanisms of private participation in the exploration and production of non-associated natural gas.
Maritime terminals for LNG.
The expansion of the natural gas pipeline network.
New participation mechanisms in the LPG market.
Natural gas and electricity border interconnections to facilitate the development of the North American energy market.
New energy infrastructure associated with the Puebla-Panama project, which includes the South East of Mexico and all of Central America.
Other areas with potential for private investment include:
Energy savings projects.
Renewable energy projects (geothermal, wind and micro-hydraulic).
Pressure maintenance in petroleum wells.
Future Infrastructure Developments — United States
Several applications for authorization to construct and operate new cross-border gas pipeline projects have been brought to the attention of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In many cases formal application has not occurred or approval of these proposed projects is pending. Thus, there is no guarantee that these projects will be completed.
Related requests for import/export authorization by the Department of Energy for these proposed pipeline projects have not yet been filed with DOE.
The following pipeline project proposals/requests for authorization have been filed with the FERC:
The proposed Georgia Straits Crossing Pipeline would be an onshore 47.5 mile pipeline that would transport about 100 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) through the State of Washington. The pipeline would require construction of a pipeline in Washington State to connect with Canadian facilities at two points: at the U.S./Canadian border near Sumas, Washington and Huntington, British Columbia (point of import) and offshore at the U.S./Canadian border midway between Patos Island, Washington, and Saturna Island, British Columbia, Canada (point of export).
The proposed offshore Calypso Pipeline would transport about 832 MMcf/d of natural gas over 41.8 miles from a point to be agreed with the Bahamas to Broward County, Florida.
The proposed expansion of the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. would transport an additional 400 MMcf/d from the U.S./Canadian border near Calais, Maine, to points in the Northeast United States with the addition of 107,200 horsepower of compression and 31.3 miles of pipeline looping.
The following pipeline projects have not been filed with the FERC but are expected to be filed in the near future:
The proposed AES Ocean Express Pipeline would be an offshore 41-mile pipeline that would transport about 800 MMcf/d of natural gas to the State of Florida from a point to be agreed with the Bahamas to Port Everglades, Florida.
The proposed ANR Southern/El Paso Pipeline would be an offshore 37 mile pipeline that would transport about 800 MMcf/d to the State of Florida. The pipeline would require construction of a pipeline from a point to be agreed with the Bahamas to Palm Beach, Florida.
The proposed El Paso/ Blue Atlantic Transmission Pipeline would be an offshore 750 mile pipeline proposal that would transport about 1000 MMcf/d to the State of New York. The pipeline would require construction of a pipeline from offshore Nova Scotia to the New York City area.
The Northwinds Pipeline Project, sponsored by National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation, would transport 500 MMcf/d from the U.S./Canadian border near Buffalo, New York, through a 215 mile pipeline to the Leidy Hub in Pennsylvania.
| Possible Future Electric Power Connections — Mexico/United States Potential Interconnections |
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