Legislators were also provided an update on the project’s status and informed of the extensive regulatory guidelines and safety standards associated with constructing and operating a pipeline.
The project team stressed several key points about the project, saying that once in operation, it will provide a safe and reliable system for delivering the natural gas liquids used to create the fuels and products Americans depend on every day. Bluegrass Pipeline’s officials also pointed out that the 1,770 km long, 24 inch pipeline will help ensure that Kentucky is well-positioned for the future of energy distribution in the country, and that it will help drive economic development by bringing new tax dollars into the state and local economies.
“The Bluegrass Pipeline will carry the critical ingredients for making products that are used by many Kentucky businesses, including the state’s robust auto manufacturing sector,” said Williams Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Development Jim Scheel, one of the joint venture partners in the project.
“That means jobs, and it means Kentucky continues to play a part in making our nation less reliant on foreign sources of energy. It also means about $US136 million in new tax revenue during just the first ten years.”
The pipeline officials spoke about their commitment to working with Kentucky landowners, and they informed legislators that more than three quarters of the property owners along the proposed route in Kentucky have granted permission for environmental and civil surveys of their property.
The Bluegrass Pipeline is a joint project by Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP. Boardwalk is the parent of Texas Gas Transmission LLC, a natural gas pipeline that has been operating in Kentucky for many years.