Spectra Energy plans to ship inexpensive U.S. shale gas into Maine, Maritimes. The company that owns the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline has announced plans to expand its capacity to ship inexpensive U.S. shale gas into Maine and the Maritimes. Houston-based Spectra Energy is responding to a call from New England governors for access to a reliable supply of lower cost energy to generate electricity. But Spectra Energy says it may also bring lower natural gas prices to Atlantic Canada. The Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline was built to carry Nova Scotia gas west and south into New England. Those supplies are running out, however. In addition, last winter’s multiple storms and extended cold stretches led to crippling price spikes throughout the Maritimes and much of the northeastern U.S. Meanwhile, there are abundant supplies to cheap shale gas in the southern United States, in the Marcellus region. Spectra’s pipelines are not currently set up to ship gas into the Boston area and north to Maine. But the company plans to reverse pipelines and increase capacity of the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline and the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipelines by up to one billion cubic feet per day. « Our pipelines are in the right place at the right time to supply the region
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