Enbridge unveiled a plan Tuesday to expand a major pipeline into New England, seeking to capitalize on the region’s shifting political landscape to increase the flow of natural gas.
The proposal, dubbed Project Beacon, would expand the Algonquin Gas Transmission line’s capacity by nearly 10 percent. It comes amid a concerted push by President Donald Trump to increase pipeline access into the Northeast, where a number of governors have expressed a growing openness to using more gas.
“The project is designed to bring additional, much needed energy into the Northeast and help address ongoing high energy costs and reliability concerns,” Enbridge spokesperson Max Bergeron said in a statement.
New England has long faced concerns about its limited pipeline capacity. The region is heavily reliant on natural gas for power generation and heating, but its pipelines can be pushed to capacity during the winter months. Plans to expand the region’s pipeline capacity has faced opposition from environmentalists and Democrats, who argue new pipelines will saddle consumers with higher utility bills and more pollution.
