Sabal Trail Transmission LLC can construct and operate the Sabal Trail interstate natural gas pipeline project after receiving a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Spectra Energy Partners LP said Feb. 3.

Sabal Trail Transmission is a joint venture of Spectra Energy Partners, NextEra Energy Inc. and Duke Energy. The company will begin final preparations before construction begins.

The 516-mile pipeline’s in-service date is May 1, 2017. The pipeline could deliver about 1.1 billion cubic feet per day to the Southeast U.S., including firm transportation services to Florida Power & Light Co. and Duke Energy of Florida.

Bill Yardley, president of Sabal Trail Management LLC and president of Spectra’s U.S. transmission and storage, said that Sabal Trail Transmission has involved stakeholders, local community officials and federal and state agencies in the process for more than two and a half years.

Spectra Energy Partners LP is based in Houston. NextEra Energy Inc. is based in Juno Beach, Fla.