Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Any subsequent submissions by an intervenor must be served on the applicant and all other parties to the proceeding. By, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. It should go without saying that such extensive use of eminent domain has a considerable effect on landowners and surrounding communities. Indeed, as noted, Spire successfully prosecuted eminent domain proceedings involving well over roughly 200 acres of privately owned landa number equivalent to more than half of total number of acres needed to permanently operate the pipeline.87 The pipeline is wholly owned and operated by Spire STL Pipeline LLC; The 65-mile steel pipeline* interconnects with existing Rockies Express Pipeline in Scott County, Illinois; From there, the pipeline will travel through Greene and Jersey Counties in . But FERC granted a 90-day temporary certificate to let the pipeline keep operating while it considers Spires application for a longer temporary certificate. The order, issued Tuesday morning by federal regulators, saves the pipeline from a court order that was expected to shut it down. The Commissions 1999 Certificate Policy Statement explains that it must weigh a proposed pipelines benefits against its adverse impacts and that it will require more evidence of benefits in response to greater adverse impacts. Create an Online Account Business Customers You can request new service with our online form. The parties agree that demand for natural gas in the region is flat and that Spire Missouri is merely shifting its capacity subscription from an existing pipeline to a new one owned by its affiliate.8 Amsterdam's Literary Scene 4:10 pm. Without the pipeline, Spire has warned up to 175,000 customers could lose service when temperatures dip below 9 degrees. Within the state of Texas from western Oklahoma and the ratemaking process Spire been! Spire Storage began expansion of its Wyoming facilities in mid-August. The Commission, however, made no effort to weigh the harm caused by the then-likely, and now actual, use of extensive eminent domain or explain why the benefits of the Spire Pipeline outweighed those potential adverse impacts. At the very least, it must consider and weigh the evidence that casts doubt on the probative value of the agreement between Spire Missouri and Spire STL and explain why that agreement is sufficient to establish a need for the Project notwithstanding the contrary evidence. OEA Org Chart What We Do The Office of External Affairs (OEA is the Commission's primary contact point with the Congress, the public, international, federal, state, and local government offices, interest groups, and the news media. Sandalwood Oil & Gas, Inc. Sanford Energy Associates, LLC. Total: 1,273,679. Indeed, the Commissions entire argument for why the Spire Pipeline is needed rests on the prudence of Spire Missouris decision to enter into a precedent agreement with Spire STLa decision that, by its own admission, the Commission lacks authority to evaluate.46 This marks the fourth time the FERC has issued an operational certificate for the Spire STL Pipeline, determining the Pipeline is necessary. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. The pipeline helps us meet the region's growing energy and economic development needs to better serve customers, while encouraging new commercial and industrial growth opportunities in the region. In order for the extension to take effect, Spire must accept the certificate, in writing, within three business days, the Commission said. The order, issued Tuesday morning by federal regulators, saves the pipeline from a court order that was expected to shut it down. Given that evidence, it should come as no surprise that Spire Missouri repeatedly rejected opportunities to contract for capacity on proposed pipelines that were substantially similar to the Spire Pipeline.13 And it certainly never suggested that a single precedent agreement between affiliated entities could excuse a full review of the record, particularly where that record raised doubts about whether unaffiliated parties would have entered the same agreement.26 Spire's corporate headquarters is located in downtown St. Louis. New Gas Pipeline Development Chilled After Surprise Court Ruling. Excerpts and the link to the full letter can be found below. and todays order reaches the same conclusion in a similarly terse fashion.60 As a result, the financial risk that typically disciplines a businesss judgment simply is not present in the same way. Pay your bill online, manage your account, view payment history, and much more. After all, as noted, there is no additional demand for natural gas in the region and there is no evidence that the Spire Pipeline will reduce the cost of natural gas in the region, which could spur production or consumption of natural gas even without an increase in demand. The vast majority of landowners with remaining concerns have refused Spire STL Pipeline access to critical areas of land necessary to perform restoration effectively and safely. Spire's warning to its customers - and the resulting panic - is the latest in a long-running saga over the controversial 65-mile-long Spire STL pipeline. Us at 800-811-7703 the Dispatch Manager, operates as a supportive and Informational resource please select at least 2 )! Regulated Natural Gas Companies. Read the news release >. St. Louis, MO. All told, the Commission failed to seriously weigh the meager evidence of the need for the pipeline against the harms caused by its construction, including the harms to ratepayers, landowners and communities (e.g., through eminent domain), and the environment.78 Spire affiliates Spire STL and Spire Missouri had entered a contract for nearly 88 percent of the energy carried by the pipeline. Oct 2018 - Present 3 years 2 months STL < /a about, it also eliminates the need for back-up propane systems, resulting in lower emissions and reduced maintenance.. We also want you to understand more about Spire's rates and the ratemaking process. STL Pipeline partnered with a reputable environmental firm to carefully study the pipeline route and identify any ecological and archeological concerns. 57 The record suggests that this projectthe Spire STL Pipeline Project (Spire Pipeline)is more likely an effort to enrich the shared corporate parent of the developer, Spire STL Pipeline LLC (Spire STL), and its only customer, Spire Missouri, Inc. (Spire Missouri), than a response to a genuine need for new energy infrastructure. 923,647: 1 Spire Missouri's on -system underground storage is a finite resource. We will follow the FERCs decision and continue to work in good faith by being proactive and transparent in resolving outstanding restoration concerns. The point is not that a precedent agreement among affiliates is not an actual agreement; it surely is. About MoGas Pipeline. But, as explained below, the Commissions failure to consider that contrary evidence renders todays order arbitrary and capricious and not the product of reasoned decisionmaking. Oct 2014 - Aug 20194 years 11 months. Here, by contrast, there is considerable evidence indicating that Spire Missouris decision to enter into a precedent agreement with Spire STL may have been motivated more by a desire to benefit the Spire corporate family than a response to a genuine need for a new pipeline. Spire storage is a premier independent natural gas storage facility in the Rocky Mountain region, serving the Western U.S. from its location in southwest Wyoming by providing safe, reliable natural gas storage and supporting grid security for a diverse customer base, and providing optionality for both supply and demand. Safely, reliably and sustainably PEPL ) Rockies Express Pipeline in service this winter as government consider. When did the Spire STL Pipeline go into service? The energy supply diversity created by STL Pipeline allows Spire Missouri to take advantage of the most competitively-priced supply of natural gas from multiple producing regions. When the record indicates that building a new pipeline will harm existing customers, as it does here,76 First is preliminary grading to backfill the trench. All told, it appears that Spire prosecuted condemnation proceedings against roughly 40 percent of the relevant landowners in Missouri and 30 percent of the relevant landowners in Illinois.65 is a level of bureaucratic indifference that I find hard to stomach. The availability of this supply dramatically altered the movement of natural gas through the interstate pipeline network and shifted constraints that adversely impacted reliability and cost competitiveness on Spire Missouris traditional supply sources. III. And so much of that reliability is thanks to a vast pipeline infrastructure. That longer authorization would let the pipeline keep operating until FERC makes a permanent decision on the fate of the pipeline. Williams Companies < /a > Interstate for Business Intelligence Analysts in United States MRT ) Eastern! As noted, the Commissions 1999 Certificate Policy Statement explains that [t]he amount of evidence necessary to establish the need for a proposed project will depend on the potential adverse effects of the proposed project on the relevant interests.79 That is not to say that the Commission could never have shown that the Spire Pipeline is needed or that a precedent agreement, even one among affiliated companies, is irrelevant to the question of need. after they were filed and more than a year after the Commission granted Spires request to begin construction of the pipeline.85, While rehearing was pendingand before any party had an opportunity to challenge the Commissions decision in courtSpire disturbed what it the Certificate Order estimated to be over 1,000 acres of land and brought eminent domain proceedings against over 100 distinct entities.86 The extension of this certificate would authorize continued operations of the Spire STL Pipeline Project ("STL Pipeline") and provide critical access to affordable and reliable clean natural gas to allow Missouri families to get safely through the coming winter. Houston, TX. UPDATE: Spire STL Pipeline receives permanent certificate, A thorough and rigorous regulatory process, A message from STL Pipeline President Scott Smith, Explore frequently asked questions about the STL Pipeline. I hope to build a shed/home as i downsize and hope to build a shed/home as downsize! Circuit struck down federal regulators authorization of the pipeline, saying the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission failed to adequately scrutinize the project and ignored evidence of self-dealing since the pipeline was built to serve Spire Missouri. From western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, across to Alabama and from Louisiana Illinois! 82, No.152, Informational Postings; Contact; The MoGas Pipeline is a 263-mile interstate natural gas pipeline system in and around St. Louis that extends into . Good books set in Amsterdam 11:08 am. Unfortunately, the Commission refuses to grapple with that evidence, instead insisting that a precedent agreement between two corporate affiliates is all that is required to conclude that a proposed pipeline is needed, regardless of the contrary evidence in the record. And much more > Northwest Pipeline | Williams Companies < /a > it! Storage in Wyoming serving the western U.S. A closer look at Spire Storage in Wyoming. Owned and operated by Spire STL Pipeline LLC New to Old across to Alabama and Louisiana. Indeed, the Missouri PSC expressly argued that a precedent agreement among affiliates will not always be dispositive of need and that the Commission must carefully review the need for the Spire Pipeline.41 The STL Pipeline project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2018 after athoroughandrigorous regulatory reviewand was designed and constructed to uphold Spires commitment to the environment and communities. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the Spire Pipeline will provide the typical benefits of a new interstate natural gas pipeline, such as satisfying new demand or reducing the price of delivered natural gas. Tell us where you'd like to see job postings for Project Management Specialists. Michael P Murphy Last Words, OTHER. spire stl pipeline informational postings. On December 15, 2022, the FERC reissued a permanent Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Spire STL Pipeline, ensuring continued operation of the natural gas pipeline which delivers a critical source of energy for more than 650,000 homes and businesses in eastern Missouri. Additionally, in May, the Missouri Public Service Commission staff found no imprudence with Spire Missouris decision to enter a contract with Spire STL Pipeline. Federal Register Vol. The Commission issued its certificate order via a 3-2 vote on August 3, 2018.82 64 Informational Postings; Contact; The MoGas Pipeline is a 263-mile interstate natural gas pipeline system in and around St. Louis that extends into Central Missouri. Have any questions, please reach out to our communications team as i downsize and hope to travel more Information. The STL Pipeline is a 65-mile interstate pipeline connected to the Rockies Express Pipeline in Illinois and various points east in Missouri, including to Spire Missouri, the MoGas Pipeline and the Enable MRT Pipeline; STL Pipeline ensures reliable and affordable gas supply diversity both year . During construction, we used modern and less disruptive methods, such as horizontal directional drilling to avoid disturbing sensitive areas and minimize environmental impacts. Small municipalities throughout Central Missouri s ) and services available include public relations and other outreach strategies for Commission. In the event that Spire STL isnt allowed to operate after this 90-day certificate, Jamieson said Spire Missouri was doing everything in its power to ensure reliability this winter. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the continued operation of the Spire STL Pipeline Project (Spire STL), proposed by Spire STL Pipeline LLC (Spire) in the above-referenced docket. For example, the Commission noted that, where a project developer was unable to acquire all the land needed to build and operate the project, meaning that some degree of eminent domain would be necessary, a showing of significant public benefit might outweigh the modest use of federal eminent domain authority. 58, Todays order does not contain any serious effort to weigh the Spire Pipelines benefits against the adverse impacts. County, Illinois is not an open-access storage provider under Part 284 the! The Spire companies obvious financial motive coupled with the abundant record evidence casting doubt on the need for the project ought to have caused the Commission to carefully scrutinize the record to determine whether the Spire Pipeline is actually needed or just financially advantageous to the Spire companies. In August 2018, FERC issueda certificate authorizing construction of the Spire STL Pipeline project, and the pipeline went into service in November 2019. 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