THE US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Duke Energys subsidiary Texas Eastern Transmissions plan to increase the firm shipping capacity of its natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania by 21.9Mcuft/d, and lease the additional shipping capacity to Dominion Transmission. To expand its shipping capacity, Texas Eastern wants to build four new 36-inch diameter pipeline loops totalling 55km in Pennsylvania. The company also plans to build several new compressor stations and upgrade existing ones for the additional gas. The estimated cost of the project is $83 million, and Dominion Transmission, a unit of Dominion Resources, will pay Texas Eastern close to $1.1 million a month to lease the shipping capacity.