Islander East Pipeline Overview

Islander East, Pipeline Proposal Overview

On June 15th, 2001 Islander East filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting permissin to build a natural gas pipeline from North Haven, Connecticut to Brookhaven and Calverton on Long Island, New York. Another company, Iroquois Pipeline, previously built a natural gas pipeline that ran from Milford, Connecticut to South Commack on Long Island.
Iroquois Pipeline wanted to add an extension to their line that would connect off the coast of Milford and travel on to Shoreham on Long Island. Iroquois withdrew their request when the Islander East project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The Islander East project is designed to establish a second and separate, Long Island Sound crossing to increase the supply, security and reliability of natural gas on Long Island.
The Islander East pipeline could easily serve future customers in Connecticut and would increase the supply, security and reliability of natural gas available to residents and businesses in our state as well.
The Islander East pipeline will connect to the Algonquin pipeline in Chesire, Connecticut. The Algonquin pipeline is part of a 300,000 mile network of gas pipelines that spread across the United States.
Algonquin, by contractual agreement with Islander East, will operate and maintain the Islander East pipeline.
Natural gas is often found in deep pockets beneath the earth's surface. It is difficult to store so it is usually left deep underground until it is needed.
The 300,000 mile network or grid of pipelines allows natural gas to flow from wells in the Gulf of Mexico, the western states and Canada to over 50 million homes and businesses throughout the United States. So customers may be assured of a steady supply of natural gas several pipelines, each from a different company, may be built to serve a particular region. Competing pipelines often have connections to each other so in the case of an emergency, customers will still be able to get natural gas.

Connecticut is fortunate to be served by three separate interstate pipelines; Algonquin, Iroquois and Tennessee Gas. Competition between the three companies helps to reduce the cost of natural gas in our state.
Eastern Long Island is served by only one interstate natural gas pipeline company; Iroquois. The residents of eastern Long Island pay about 20% more than we do for natural gas. A second, separate natural gas pipeline will increase competition and reduce natural gas prices on Long Island.
The Islander East pipeline will follow an existing Algonguin pipeline from North Haven to the Branford Steam Railroad tracks in North Branford. Then it will closely follow the Branford Steam Railroad tracks to Juniper Point and Long Island Sound. After crossing the Sound, the pipeline will come ashore at Shoreham, Long Island in New York.
On September 19th, 2002 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity for Islander East. They certified the need for a second, separate natural gas pipeline to cross Long Island Sound. Later, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cited security, reliability and competition as major benefits of the Islander East pipeline proposal. They concluded that the Islander East pipeline was an environmentally acceptable solution that would provide significant benefits to the public.
Receiving approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was an essential first step in a long and involved regulatory process, which Islander East must traverse, to build an interstate natural gas pipeline.

Project Map	Branford, CT Closeup