TC Energy Corp. on Nov. 5 said it has greenlighted its roughly $800-million WR pipeline project, which is geared toward boosting the base system reliability and expanding an existing portion of the company's ANR Pipeline Co. system to serve markets in the midwestern U.S.

Through the project, ANR Pipeline will be able to move up to an additional 157,000 Dth in natural gas capacity to local area distribution and electric generation companies that have retired significant coal-fired and vintage gas generation, according to a news release. TC Energy said ANR Pipeline has also already signed long-term firm transportation deals that will help address energy demand in the Midwest.

The project, which is anticipated to help reduce the CO2 equivalent emissions of ANR Pipeline by about 30,000 metric tons per year, will include the installation of electric motor compressors with fuel-switching capabilities to replace the existing natural gas-powered compressor units along the pipeline system.

TC Energy said it has plans to further convert natural gas to electric motor compressors in the following years in order to continue lowering the emissions from the company's natural gas transmission and storage facilities.

TC Energy's electrification efforts come amid the company's recently unveiled ambition to slash its greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.

The project is anticipated to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2025.

ANR Pipeline, which is considered to be one of the biggest interstate natural gas pipeline systems in the U.S., delivers natural gas from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana to cities and towns in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.