In March the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a request by National Fuel Gas Company subsidiary Empire Pipeline to build two new compressor stations along the Empire Pipeline–one in Tioga County, PA, the other in Ontario County, NY–to flow an extra 205 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of yummy fracked PA gas into the Empire State (see FERC Approves Empire Pipe Request for 2 New Compressors in PA, NY). Empire is ready to begin construction and has asked FERC for approval to start.
In February 2018, Empire filed an application with FERC to build the Empire North Project, two new compressor stations, no new pipeline required (see Empire Pipe Plans 2 Compressors in PA & NY to Move Marcellus Gas). The project will provide much-needed natural gas for Upstate NY and Canada. It will also connect to the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, so who knows? Maybe some Marcellus molecules will find their way into New England too.
Anti-fossil fuelers in NY ramped up to oppose the project (see NY Antis Gear Up to Oppose Zero-Emission Compressor Stn). Nothing new about that, unfortunately. The thing is, the proposed compressor station in Ontario County will have zero (yes, zero) emissions. It will use electricity instead of diesel or natural gas or other fuels–so there’s no smoke stack and absolutely nothing going into the atmosphere. Completely benign. And yet, because the compressor station will flow more “fracked gas” from PA, irrational nutjobs oppose it.
NFG/Empire doesn’t let irrational antis slow them down. They are ready to begin work, now:
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