MarketLink expansion begins service

Pipeline & Gas Journal, March, 2002

With the completion of Phase I of Williams Gas Pipeline--Transco's MarketLink expansion project--the first interstate pipeline expansion completed to serve the New York metropolitan area since 1992 was placed into service. MarketLink, which received federal regulatory approval April 26, 2000, is being constructed in two phases. Phase I, which began service late last year will deliver an incremental 166,000 Dth/d of natural gas. Phase II of the project, which will be placed in service in November, will deliver another 130,000 Dth/d to the region.

"Phase I of MarketLink will provide much needed capacity to the region in time for the winter heating season," said Mario DiCocco, Williams' Transco pipeline director of operations for the Princeton division, which covers New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. "We will begin construction of Phase II next spring."

More than a dozen new gas fueled power plans are currently in the permitting process in New Jersey alone. This expanded supply will fuel new power plants that are needed to meet the region's growing electricity needs and mandated Clean Air Act standards.