Respondents to the RFP will propose specific routes, Gibbs said, noting that the total cost of the project will depend the proposals offered. FPL in 2009 proposed building a 280-mile gas pipeline within Florida that the utility estimated would cost $1.53 billion. However, the Florida Public Service Commission in 2009 rejected that plan, explaining that while FPL will need more natural gas to fire its expanding gas-fired generation fleet, the commission was not convinced that FPL’s proposal represented the most cost-effective alternative.

In its ruling, the PSC directed FPL to undertake a new examination of its gas-supply alternatives and, when it does so, to fully explore through competitive bidding the alternatives for securing the gas-transmission capacity it needs. That is the aim of the new plan and RFP.

FPL’s gas capacity needs from the new pipeline will rise from 400,000 MMBtu/day in May 2017 to 600,000 MMBtu/day in May 2020, and the utility will retain options to increase its gas-capacity needs by another 200,000 MMBtu/day by 2020 and still another 200,000 MMBtu/day by 2024.

FPL will post the RFP on its website this coming Dec. 19, and will hold a “pre-proposal workshop” at its Juno Beach headquarters on January 10. Proposals will be due April 3, FPL said, adding that it expects to sign a definitive agreement with the winning respondent in July.