April 24, 2008 New Transmission Project Will Serve Golden Pass Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal

 

         Golden Pass LNG, a joint project of ConocoPhillips, Qatar Petroleum, and Exxon Mobil, approached Entergy to provide 42 MWs of load to power its new LNG receiving and regasification terminal near Sabine Pass. Natural gas accounts for about a quarter of total U.S. energy consumption. As U.S. natural gas supplies get tighter, some industry experts note that industry and consumers may have to rely on LNG imports for as much as 30 percent of total supply by 2030.

Permitting Completed
Because the project is in Gulf Coast wetlands it required a U. S. Army Corp of Engineers Nationwide 12 permit. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Public Utility Commission of Texas were also involved in route selection. In accord with Nationwide 12 permit requirements for power line construction, the required Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan utilizes best management practices as outlined in the construction plan. Entergy is using heavy lift helicopters to minimize impact on the wetlands areas where transmission structures and lines are being constructed.

Construction Underway
Entergy's portion of the project is using approximately 100 contractors for 80 days, adding up to approximately 80,000 man-hours. Since the project is in an area impacted by Rita, transmission lines and associated facilities meet new construction and design requirements for the area and wind loading. The project is being built with base-plated caissons and base-plated steel poles.

A Team Effort
Bringing the project to reality was a team effort. Transmission and regulatory affairs developed the certificate of convenience and need that led to the route selection. Entergy's distribution business unit is providing construction power. The projected in service date for the new Keith Lake - Port Acres bulk power line, Line 829/830, is early summer. When the line is energized, Entergy will have played a role in meeting the nation's demand for new natural gas supplies.