3rd company looks to expand natural gas pipeline capacity in Maine

Another major energy company has made a proposal to the Maine Public Utilities Commission to expand natural gas pipeline capacity in the state.

Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. filed a plan Monday in which the state could contract to secure specific supplies of lower-cost natural gas on two proposed projects.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1xwtdVC ) reports that Spectra's filing follows a similar action by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, owners of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.

An earlier proposal was submitted by the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System.

The commission is in the midst of deciding whether Maine ratepayers should spend up to $75 million annually to secure up to 200 million cubic feet of natural gas. The added capacity would help relieve bottlenecks in New England's undersized pipeline system in the winter.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com