Rockies Express Pipeline LLC Seeks Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approval for Critical Energy Reliability Link Project

Strategic Insights -

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, Cheyenne Connector, LLC, and East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC have submitted an abbreviated application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approvals allowing each of the Applicants to undertake activities that comprise the Critical Energy Reliability Link Project. The project involves the construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of a 152.7-mile, 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, a 7.0-mile, 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, a 6,195-horsepower compressor station, and associated metering and appurtenant facilities in Weld, Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, and El Paso counties, Colorado.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Critical Energy Reliability Link Project involves the construction of approximately 160 miles of natural gas pipelines, a compressor station, and associated facilities.
  • The project will provide seamless transportation between the existing REX FERC-jurisdictional natural gas transmission system and the delivery points on the new pipelines.
  • The Applicants request certificates of public convenience and necessity for each of the proposed facilities and for the provision of a new no-notice service, a new firm storage service, and a new interruptible storage service.
  • Cheyenne Connector requests Commission authorization to abandon by lease 250,000 dekatherms per day of existing unsubscribed transportation capacity to REX.
  • East Cheyenne requests Commission authorization to abandon by lease 1,500,000 dekatherms of existing unsubscribed storage capacity to REX.
  • The Application consists of three volumes: Volume IA (public), Volume IB (public), and Volume II (confidential).
  • The Applicants have requested that the information submitted in Volume II be accorded Privileged and Confidential treatment and that the information submitted in Volume III be accorded Critical Energy Infrastructure treatment.

Statistics:

  • 152.7 miles of natural gas pipeline will be constructed as part of the Critical Energy Reliability Link Project.
  • The project involves the construction of a 6,195-horsepower compressor station.
  • 250,000 dekatherms per day of existing unsubscribed transportation capacity may be abandoned by lease to REX.
  • 1,500,000 dekatherms of existing unsubscribed storage capacity may be abandoned by lease to REX.

Sources:

  • Notice filed by Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, Cheyenne Connector, LLC, and East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC in Docket No. CP25-___-000 (FERC August 15, 2025) - https://elibrary.ferc.gov
  • Section 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. § 717f(b) & (c).
  • Part 157 of the regulations, 18 C.F.R. Part 157 (2024).