Jul 18, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Williams Partners’ Northwest Pipeline Seeks FERC Approval for North Seattle Lateral Upgrade Project

Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) announced today that Northwest Pipeline has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking authorization for its North Seattle Lateral Upgrade project in south Snohomish County in the state of Washington.

Northwest has executed firm agreements with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) for the project to expand the delivery capabilities of Northwest Pipeline’s North Seattle Lateral, which serves PSE customers. PSE operates Washington’s largest natural gas distribution system serving nearly 800,000 gas customers in six counties.

“Our customers depend on safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service. By partnering with Williams on the North Seattle Lateral Upgrade project, we can continue to reliably serve customers in the growing areas of south Snohomish and north King counties well into the future,” said Shawnte Anderson, Puget Sound Energy’s Natural Gas project manager.

Pending all federal, state and local regulatory approvals, construction-related activities are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2019 and would be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019.

“Demand for natural gas in the North Seattle region and other major markets continues to grow as customers recognize its value as a clean, affordable and abundant energy source,” said Walter Bennett, senior vice president of Williams Partners’ West operating area. “The North Seattle Lateral Upgrade project will add important energy infrastructure necessary to meet the region’s growing demand for natural gas.”

Northwest, a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams Partners L.P., owns and operates an existing interstate natural gas pipeline system, extending from New Mexico’s San Juan Basin to the border of Canada in Sumas, Washington. For more than 60 years, Williams Partners’ Northwest system has been a primary artery for the transmission of natural gas to the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain Region.

About Williams Partners

Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap natural gas infrastructure master limited partnership with a strong growth outlook and major positions in key U.S. supply basins. Williams Partners has operations across the natural gas value chain including gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams (NYSE: WMB), a premier provider of large-scale U.S. natural gas infrastructure, owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners.

Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although the partnership believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.