July 2026 Vol. 81 No. 7
Newsline
Newsline: Latest industry developments
155-mile Texas-Louisiana gas pipeline gains FAST-41 status
The Texas Gateway Project, a proposed 155-mile natural gas pipeline spanning Texas and Louisiana, has been accepted into the federal FAST-41 permitting program, a designation intended to improve coordination and transparency during environmental reviews.
The project, sponsored by Gulf South Pipeline Company LLC, includes construction of approximately 155 miles of new 36-inch and 42-inch-diameter pipeline, a new compressor station in San Jacinto County, Texas, and modifications to existing compressor stations in Panola and Sabine counties, Texas.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will serve as the lead federal permitting agency.
"This is exactly the kind of complex infrastructure project FAST-41 was designed to support," said Emily Domenech, executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. "I look forward to working with Gulf South Pipeline Company and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to help ensure this project moves through an efficient and transparent permitting process."
According to the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, the project is intended to increase natural gas transportation capacity and improve system reliability across Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast by connecting supplies from major production basins with growing power generation and industrial demand.
FAST-41 coverage does not constitute project approval but provides participating infrastructure projects with a coordinated federal permitting schedule and increased transparency through the Federal Permitting Dashboard.
DC Water breaks ground on final Clean Rivers tunnel
DC Water has begun construction on the Piney Branch Tunnel, the final major tunnel in its Clean Rivers Project, marking the last phase of a long-running effort to reduce combined sewer overflows into the District's waterways.
The approximately half-mile-long, 22-foot-diameter tunnel will provide more than 4.2 million gallons of underground storage for stormwater and wastewater during heavy rain events. Instead of overflowing into Piney Branch, captured flows will be conveyed to the Blue Plains Water Resource Recovery Facility for treatment.
The utility expects the project to reduce combined sewer overflows into Piney Branch by approximately 96 percent, cutting overflow events from about 25 times per year to roughly once annually. The improvements will also help protect water quality in Rock Creek, the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.
Site preparation is underway, with tunneling expected to begin this fall. Construction will include rock excavation and controlled blasting as crews install the deep underground tunnel and associated infrastructure. The Piney Branch Tunnel is scheduled for completion by the end of 2029 alongside the Potomac River Tunnel, completing DC Water's Clean Rivers Project.
Chesapeake Utilities to build $1.2 billion Florida gas pipeline
Chesapeake Utilities Corp. and subsidiary Peninsula Pipeline Co. (PPC) have announced the Florida Energy Pathway, a proposed $1.2 billion intrastate natural gas pipeline that will expand transportation capacity across South Florida and support growing energy demand.
The project calls for construction of a 24-inch pipeline extending from Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade County. Chesapeake said the line has secured nearly 250,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of firm transportation commitments from multiple investment-grade shippers, with upstream capacity supplied through Florida Gas Transmission's Phase IX expansion.
PPC is continuing to market additional firm transportation capacity while advancing project development. The pipeline is expected to enter service in 2030, pending regulatory approvals, final engineering and commissioning.
Chesapeake estimates the project will require approximately $1.2 billion in capital investment and said it intends to partner with one or more third-party investors that could own up to 49% of the project.
BLM approves right-of-way for 220-mile California water pipeline conversion
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved a right-of-way allowing Cadiz Inc. to move forward with converting a 220-mile natural gas pipeline into a water conveyance system serving communities in Southern California.
The federal approval authorizes conversion and long-term operation of the Northern Pipeline across BLM-managed lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The project will repurpose an existing buried steel pipeline acquired by Cadiz in 2020 to transport water from the Mojave Groundwater Bank to communities in San Bernardino County and California's Inland Empire.
The converted pipeline will include new pump stations and related infrastructure and is designed to deliver up to 25,000 acre-feet of water annually, with capacity to expand as additional groundwater banking facilities are developed. The right-of-way will remain in effect for 50 years, reflecting the projected operating life of the system.
Cadiz said long-term water supply agreements and construction contracts are already in place, allowing the project to advance toward construction following years of environmental review and permitting. The company said the pipeline will provide a new drought-resilient water supply for California communities while repurposing existing underground energy infrastructure for municipal water delivery.
PHMSA proposes first major pipeline repair rule update in two decades
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed sweeping updates to federal pipeline repair standards, marking the first major overhaul of gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline repair criteria in more than 20 years.
The agency estimates the proposed rule would save the industry about $390 million annually while improving pipeline safety through modern engineering practices.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), published July 8 in the Federal Register, would replace prescriptive repair timelines with a more risk-based framework that relies on modern inspection technologies, engineering analysis and integrity assessments to determine when pipeline anomalies require remediation. The proposal also extends engineering-based repair criteria already adopted for gas transmission pipelines to hazardous liquid pipelines.
PHMSA said advances in inline inspection tools, predictive modeling and data analytics now allow operators to better identify and prioritize defects based on actual risk, reducing unnecessary excavations while focusing resources on the most critical threats.
Under the proposal, pipeline anomalies would be grouped into three response categories — immediate, near-term and other conditions — replacing multiple existing compliance schedules with a streamlined framework. The rule would also expand the use of engineering-based assessments, including predicted failure pressure calculations and modern crack and corrosion evaluation methods, to determine repair priorities.
Comments on the proposed rule are due by Sept. 8, 2026.
2,050-mile Northern Shield pipeline proposed to link Alberta and Ontario
The governments of Alberta and Ontario have unveiled a proposed 2,050-mile Northern Shield oil pipeline that would transport crude from Hardisty, Alberta, to refining and export markets in southern Ontario as part of a broader interprovincial energy corridor initiative.
The proposed pipeline would initially carry approximately 500,000 barrels of oil per day, with the potential to expand capacity to 800,000 bpd. The route would extend from Hardisty through Saskatchewan and Manitoba before terminating in Sarnia, Ontario, home to one of Canada's largest refining hubs. The corridor is also envisioned to accommodate natural gas and other energy infrastructure in the future.
The project remains in the early planning stages, with no construction timeline or cost estimate released. Ontario launched a feasibility study last year to evaluate the project and has begun consultations with Indigenous communities, while Manitoba has not joined the initiative.
Study projects $1 trillion needed for U.S. energy infrastructure by 2052
More than $1 trillion in new midstream energy infrastructure investment will be needed across North America by 2052, according to a report released by the INGAA Foundation in collaboration with the University of Houston, Wood and ESMIA Consultants.
The report projects annual investment of $40 billion to $48 billion in natural gas, crude oil, natural gas liquids, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructure. Researchers said growing electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence and continued expansion of LNG exports will drive much of the need.
The study estimates the region will require at least 37,000 miles of additional natural gas transmission pipelines, including approximately 33,800 miles in the United States, along with roughly 103,000 miles of new natural gas gathering pipelines. Infrastructure development could also support between 414,000 and 828,000 jobs annually through 2052.
Federal judge restores funding for $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to permanently restore funding for the $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project, allowing work to continue on one of the nation's largest underground transportation infrastructure investments.
The project will construct two new rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey while supplementing the existing 116-year-old tunnel system to improve capacity, reliability and resilience along the Northeast Corridor.
Construction resumed earlier this year after a temporary funding suspension. The ruling bars future attempts to withhold grant reimbursements for the project while related litigation continues.
Malibu begins underground power line project
Southern California Edison has begun construction on the Merlin Circuit Undergrounding Project in Malibu as part of the utility's effort to reduce wildfire risk and improve electric reliability.
The project will relocate overhead power lines underground along Corral Canyon Road, Seabreeze Drive, Vista Mar Drive and nearby neighborhoods. Construction is expected to continue through the end of 2027.
According to the utility, the project is designed to reduce wildfire ignition risks, improve reliability and reduce the need for Public Safety Power Shutoffs in high fire-threat areas.
Savannah launches $478 million water, wastewater infrastructure program
Savannah, Georgia, is moving forward with a five-year, $477.8 million capital program to modernize its water and wastewater infrastructure through major treatment plant upgrades and capacity expansions.
The plan includes construction of a new $125 million water reclamation facility and a $100 million expansion of the Travis Field Water Reclamation Facility, along with improvements across the city's treatment system.
Officials said the investments are intended to improve long-term system reliability while supporting continued residential, commercial and industrial growth.
North Carolina gas pipeline project cleared for construction
Federal regulators have authorized Mountain Valley Pipeline to begin construction of the North Carolina portion of its Southgate Amendment Project after determining the company satisfied applicable pre-construction requirements.
The approval allows construction to move forward on the North Carolina facilities associated with the natural gas pipeline expansion while requiring continued compliance with the project's remaining certificate conditions.
Amarillo considers 70-mile water supply pipeline
Officials in Amarillo, Texas, are considering a memorandum of understanding supporting development of a proposed second groundwater pipeline designed to strengthen long-term regional water supplies.
The proposed 70-mile pipeline would transport groundwater from Roberts County to communities served by the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority, supplementing the region's existing water delivery system.
Nashville weighs underground power line requirement
Nashville officials are considering new development requirements that would place power lines underground in future residential and commercial projects.
Supporters say underground utilities could improve reliability, reduce storm-related outages and better accommodate continued growth. The proposal would apply to new development rather than existing utility systems, while Nashville Electric Service also evaluates opportunities to underground portions of its current network.
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