This approval authorizes Sabal Trail, subject to certain conditions, to proceed with final preparations to commence construction in the coming months to meet a May 1, 2017, in-service date.
Once complete, the 516-mile pipeline would have the capacity to deliver approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to the Southeast U.S., including firm transportation services to Florida Power & Light Company and Duke Energy of Florida.
"Sabal Trail will provide a critically-needed source of domestic, clean-burning, affordable natural gas to the Southeast U.S. to meet the growing demand for natural gas-fired generation, the cleanest and most versatile fuel for powering the region’s homes and businesses," said Bill Yardley, president of Sabal Trail Management, LLC and president of U.S. Transmission and Storage, Spectra Energy.
"For more than two and a half years, Sabal Trail has engaged with stakeholders, local community officials, and federal and state agencies to locate and design a pipeline system that will be built and operated safely and efficiently. Receiving this stamp of approval is a testament to our strong history of consultation and successful project execution. We are very pleased to reach this significant milestone and move one step closer to construction of the pipeline, which will diversify the region’s energy sources and generate significant economic benefits for local communities."
