In a move that might boost optimism among executives at Tulsa’s Williams Companies, federal regulators have overturned the state of New York’s denial of approval of Millennium Pipeline’s request to start service on the Valley lateral natural gas pipeline project.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the small pipeline that New York state rejected last fall. FERC ruled that New York’s environmental regulator had waived its authority to provide a water quality certification under the Clean Water Act within one year as required by law.
TransCanada, the firm behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline proposed from Canada to Nebraska is a majority owner of Millennium Pipeline. It owns 47% while DTE Energy and National Grid each hold 26.25% ownership.
Why does it give hope to Williams Cos. executives? Because the company’s proposed Constitution pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York was also denied by New York state. The Oklahoma company has taken its case to FERC with hopes of having the New York denial overturned.