Northwest Pipeline Says FERC's 'Realistic Expansion Plan' Standard Applies to its Request for Waiver of Time Limit on Capacity Reservation with Regard to Blue Bridge Pipeline Project

摘要

In response to a protest lodged by Northwest (NW) Natural Gas Co., Northwest Pipeline GP (Northwest) (RP09-501) defended its April 3 request that FERC grant a waiver of its tariff provision which limits the time period during which it may reserve capacity for potential expansion projects to one year prior to filing for certificate approval. The waiver would allow Northwest to reserve 83,578 dth/d of unsubscribed firm mainline capacity that may be used for the Blue Bridge Pipeline Project for up to 24 months prior to filing its certificate application for the project. NW Natural suggests that: (1) the lengthened reservation of capacity may be detrimental to Northwest shippers; and (2) Northwest's request did not include sufficient information for the Commission to make a determination.