Adelphia Gateway Pipeline

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Media and Democracy.

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Adelphia Gateway Pipeline is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania, USA.

Location

The pipeline will run through Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties, Pennsylvania, USA.

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Project Details

• Owner: New Jersey Resources
• Proposed capacity:
• Length: 135.2 kilometers / 84 miles
• Status: Proposed
• Start Year: 2019

Background

The pipeline will utilize repurposed crude oil pipelines. Adelphia Gateway LLC announced in November of 2017 that it's buying the underused pipeline for $189 million from Talen Energy Corp., and filed its 1,285-page application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Adelphia, a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, announced the filing.

At the time of purchase, the underground pipeline delivers either oil or natural gas to two Talen power plants in Northampton County, but will be converted to exclusively transport gas. Adelphia Gateway plans to convert the southern 50-mile portion of the pipeline, which formerly carried oil and has been idle since 2014, to transport gas southward to customers in Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties. The Adelphia conversion project would require construction of two new 5,625-horsepower compressor stations, near Quakertown and in Marcus Hook. Adelphia also wants to build a new valve station at one of two proposed locations in Concord Township, Delaware County: Off Baltimore Pike, west of Stoney Bank Road, or next to Springlawn Road, near Purple Martin Drive. The plans include several meter and regulator facilities, typically where the pipeline connects with customers or meets other pipelines, and eight new "blowdown" assemblies located at existing valve stations. A blowdown is the release of gas from a pipeline to the atmosphere to relieve pressure so the pipe can undergo maintenance. Adelphia also proposes to build two new 16-inch-diameter lateral pipes to connect the planned Marcus Hook compressor station to the gas distribution systems of Peco Energy Co. and Delmarva Power.

The pipeline is the latest piece in a massive regional build-out of energy infrastructure, triggered by the boom in fracked gas from the region's shale fields. The pipelines have aroused fierce resistance from neighbors and environmentalists, who oppose the expansion of fossil-fuel consumption.

In June of 2018, the Delaware County Council was working towards hiring a consultant to perform a hazard analysis risk assessment of the pipeline. After putting out a request, it received one expert who met the specifications, Quest Consultants. However, several issues arose with that firm, particularly that it had performed work for a group opposed to the pipeline and that it did not provide its cost structure or analysis.

In January of 2019, FERC released their environmental assessment of the project in which they stated there was no significant impact on the environment.

As of June 2019, the pipeline remains under review for FERC approval. The estimated decision date is not known. The project has already received the required air quality permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, but still needs its state water quality assessment.