Background

History

The Kern River pipeline has been carrying natural gas into Utah, Nevada and California since February 1992. Before Kern River, there was a huge need for an economical and reliable source of cleaner-burning fuel in the Southern California and Las Vegas areas. Extending approximately 1,700 miles from the gas producing fields in Wyoming to Bakersfield, California, Kern River's system delivers 2.17 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to customers. 

 

Timeline 

1960s

Various companies discuss building a pipeline from the Intermountain region to Southern California.

1984

Northwest Pipeline, a Williams company, proposes a pipeline from Mountain Home, Idaho, through Nevada to Southern California. At the same time, Tenneco, Inc. explores building a pipeline called the Antelope Project from southwestern Wyoming to Southern California.

1985

Representatives from Northwest Pipeline and Tenneco meet in Houston and agree on a route. They form a partnership known as Kern River Gas Transmission Company.

May 31, 1985

Kern River submits an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build a high-pressure interstate pipeline from southwestern Wyoming to Southern California.

1985 to 1986

Surveyors and engineers determine the exact route for the Kern River pipeline. Environmental studies are conducted on the route to determine any impacts of the proposed system.

Sept. 1, 1989

Kern River and Mojave Pipeline Company reach agreement to build common facilities from Daggett to Bakersfield, California.

Jan. 24, 1990

FERC issues a certificate to Kern River allowing construction.

Jan. 2, 1991

Crews break ground and start construction on the Kern River system.

Dec. 21, 1991

Crews complete construction of the Kern River pipeline.

Feb. 15, 1992

The Kern River pipeline goes into service.

Jan. 16, 1996

Williams completes the purchase of Tenneco's half interest in the Kern River pipeline, making Williams the system's sole owner.

July 1, 2001

Kern River completes the California Action Project. The expansion increases the system's capacity by 135 million cubic feet per day.

March 27, 2002

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company completes the acquisition of Kern River Gas Transmission Company from Williams.

May 1, 2002

Kern River completes the 2002 Expansion Project. Combined, the California Action Project and the 2002 Expansion Project increase the system's total capacity to 845.5 million cubic feet per day.

Aug. 31, 2002

Kern River places the High Desert lateral into service. The project supplies 282 million cubic feet per day to Southern California.

Dec. 20, 2002

Kern River places the Bighorn lateral and meter station into service. The project supplies up to 127 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.

May 1, 2003

Kern River places the 2003 Expansion Project into service. The expansion more than doubles the capacity by 906 million cubic feet per day.

April 9, 2010

Kern River places the 2010 Expansion Project into service. This expansion increases the system's capacity by 145 million cubic feet per day.

Oct. 1, 2011

Kern River places the Apex Expansion Project into service. This expansion increases the system's capacity by 266 million cubic feet per day.

June 1, 2012

Kern River places the Mountain Pass lateral and meter station into service. The project was designed to supply up to 24,270 dekatherms per day of natural gas to the Mountain Pass rare earth mine.

April 30, 2014

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company is renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

 

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