Heartland Project

Regional utility companies came to TC Energy with a need for increased natural gas supply in the region. The energy system needs upgrades to prepare for a reliable gas supply for electric generation and growing energy demand.

The replacement of existing coal-fired electric generation facilities with natural gas-powered generation facilities will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Replacement and modernization of older compressor units will result in decreased emissions of existing assets in some aspects of the Project.

The ANR pipeline system has operated safely in Wisconsin and Illinois for the last 70 years. At TC Energy, ensuring our pipelines and other facilities operate safely is the most important aspect of our business. TC Energy uses only high-quality materials, the latest proven technology and industry-leading practices to ensure the integrity of our pipelines begins before they go in the ground. We use state-of-the-art leak-detection systems, safety features such as shut-off valves and highly specialized training for people working on our assets from the construction process to operations and ongoing monitoring 24 hours per day, seven days per week throughout the life cycle of our pipeline system.

Our continued surveying efforts along with additional input from FERC and other regulatory agencies guide our decision making on how to determine pipeline routing while protecting important natural resources. The primary objective of pipeline routing is to avoid resource conflicts whenever possible. In cases where conflicts cannot be avoided, efforts will be made to minimize their impact and implement suitable mitigation measures, such as using modern techniques to install pipeline in a way that significantly minimizes environmental disruption. We continue to investigate options and methods to avoid or minimize impacts to environmental and cultural resources.

The Project includes extensive and comprehensive stakeholder engagement throughout the Project planning and the regulatory review process. Mailed or hand-delivered Project notification packages are sent to potentially affected stakeholders. We also send out notifications and meet with municipal councils and other groups on an as-required and as-requested basis.

Looping pipelines are being introduced to enhance efficiency and capacity of existing pipelines. By utilizing existing infrastructure, these pipelines minimize land disturbance and environmental impacts.