Application Filed For TriState Pipeline.

CMS Energy Corp. has filed an application with the FERC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct, own and operate the 228-mile, 24-, 30- and 36-inch U.S. portion of the 243-mile TriState Pipeline. An additional filing was also made to FERC for a Presidential Permit

TriState will provide new natural gas transportation service from Joliet, IL, to Dawn, Ontario, partially utilizing an expansion of the existing natural gas transmission system of CMS Energy's Consumers Energy utility in Michigan. Doing so will prevent the company from having to build an additional 123 miles of new pipeline construction, saving $179 million compared to building a new pipeline.

The pipeline will have a design capacity of 650 MMcf/d of gas from Joliet to White Pigeon, MI, and 450 MMcf/d of gas from White Pigeon to Dawn, Ontario. Depending on market response, the project can be expanded in excess of 1 Bcf/d. TriState's partners have announced that the $400 million project is gaining momentum with the signing of firm, long-term gas transportation precedent agreements representing approximately two-thirds of the pipeline's projected capacity. The project is being developed by CMS Energy's international gas pipeline unit, CMS Gas Transmission and Storage Co., and Vancouver-based Westcoast Energy, Inc. Construction is expected to begin in the spring, with a projected in-service date of November 2000.