Spectra Energy Corp., Spectra Energy Partners and Northeast Utilities announced details of the Access Northeast project, designed to meet natural gas demand in New England. The pipeline expansion project will enhance the Algonquin and Maritimes pipeline systems and be capable of delivering more than 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, the companies said in a statement.

The project proposal includes:

  • A scalable expansion of existing pipeline infrastructure, which is attached to about 60% of ISO-NE’s natural gas generation capacity;
  • Partnering with existing regional storage assets to provide firm services to electric power plants with guaranteed natural gas supplies on peak days and to enable quick response to sudden power output changes;
  • An environmentally responsible approach to minimize impact by using existing asset footprints; and
  • Additional Algonquin and Maritimes delivery points for local distribution companies to access gas resources where necessary.

The project is estimated to cost about $3 billion and has an expected in-service date of November 2018. Spectra Energy and Northeast Utilities will be equal partners in the project.