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Iroquois withdraws pipeline application
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Iroquois Gas Transmission System has withdrawn its application to extend a natural gas pipeline from Connecticut to Long Island. The Shelton-based company announced Thursday it submitted its request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week. A poll of customers determined "there was not enough interest to be sufficient reason to proceed with project," said Iroquois spokeswoman Anita Flanagan. Iroquois asked federal regulators in October to delay action on the pipeline, which would have extended from Milford to Northport, N.Y. Iroquois said it wanted to assess the likelihood that a competing pipeline by Islander East Co. would be built first. In September, FERC approved the Islander East pipeline, which would run from Branford to Long Island. It needs approval from other regulators before construction may begin. The approval came despite a determination by FERC that Iroquois' pipeline from Milford to Long Island would be environmentally preferable because it would cross fewer shellfish beds. State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal praised the withdrawal of the application while repeating his criticism of the Islander East pipeline. "The Iroquois pipeline proposed expansion was doomed when its main competitor, Islander East, won misguided approval from federal regulators," he said. "There is no market need for two gas pipelines from Connecticut to Long Island." He said both projects are a "disservice to Connecticut's consumers, economy and environment." Copyright Associated Press |