4 energy partners submit application to build 564-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 3 states.
RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, today formally applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to build a 564-mile interstate natural gas transmission pipeline designed to meet the need for cleaner electricity generation, satisfy the growing demand for natural gas to heat homes and businesses, and promote consumer savings and economic growth. The FERC and a number of participating agencies will examine fully a broad number of issues, including public safety, air quality, water resources, geology, soils, wildlife and vegetation, threatened and endangered species, land and visual resources, cultural and historic resources, noise, cumulative impacts and reasonable alternatives.
Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion Resources Inc. and Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy would have 45 percent and 40 percent ownership stakes in the pipeline, respectively. The project is expected to meet a growing need for reliable energy, create thousands of jobs, promote economic development and cleaner air, and increase state and local tax revenue.
The pipeline would transport abundant natural gas supplies from Harrison County, W.Va., southeast through Virginia with an extension to Chesapeake, Va., and south through central North Carolina to Robeson County. However, some environmental advocates and community members along the ACP’s projected route aren’t convinced the estimated benefits are worth the costs associated with the pipeline, and have made a continuous effort to oppose to the project. “I really think people across the state really need to open their eyes about gas fracking and gas pipelines,” Maria Gunnoe, a community organizer with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and member of West Virginia Wilderness Lovers, said after WVWL’s West Virginia Matters campaign hosted its own meeting about the pipeline in January. “We need to think about what we’re willing to sacrifice for the profit of the gas industry. The 30,000-page application, environmental resource reports and exhibits – a stack of paper more than 10 feet tall – represent an extensive study by Dominion and outside experts as well as public input to find the best route to bring the much-needed energy to Virginia and North Carolina. Atlantic has considered more than 3,000 miles of potential routes and made hundreds of route adjustments based on discussions with landowners, public officials and others. It will be used to fuel a new generation of efficient power stations being built to achieve future federal and state environmental regulations. “We are committed to excellence in every aspect of this important project.
We will continue to work with landowners, government and community leaders, regulators and others to address concerns and refine the project,” Leopold added. A three-state coalition of more than 150 business and labor organizations, EnergySure (www.energysure.com), recently announced its support for the project and the economic development that it is projected to create. The new jobs would come from businesses being able to reinvest their energy savings in growth and from energy-intensive manufacturing industries once an abundant supply of affordable natural gas is assured. A study commissioned by Dominion concludes the pipeline’s construction could have a total economic impact of $2.7 billion in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia. One-time construction activity of the ACP could inject an annual average of $456.3 million into the economies of the ACP’s three states, supporting 2,873 annual jobs in the region from 2014 to 2019, according to Chmura Economics & Analytics (www.dom.com/acp-chmura).
Dominion operates one of the nation’s largest natural gas storage systems with 928 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 13 states. Its commercial power and international energy business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States. About AGL ResourcesAGL Resources GAS, -0.31% is an Atlanta-based energy services holding company with operations in natural gas distribution, retail operations, wholesale services and midstream operations. The company also serves more than one million retail customers through its SouthStar Energy Services joint venture and Pivotal Home Solutions, which market natural gas and related home services.
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