The Case for Pipeline Construction

By Jennifer Jett Prezkop

Author’s Note: As the editor in chief, I don’t volunteer for many writing assignments, but this topic was of particular interest to me. As a West Virginian, I put a great deal of value on the natural beauty of our Mountain Mama. As an employee of a pro-energy, pro-fossil fuel, pro-economy business publication, I also find it of the utmost importance to create good-paying jobs for our people. Moving back home to West Virginia last year, my husband and I planted roots in Ripley, just down the road from a Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) construction site and a new compressor station. In hearing about the legal battles affecting both the MVP and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), media coverage seemed to focus on the views of environmentalists—many of whom are completely against all extraction of fossil fuels—with little if any coverage on what MVP or ACP are doing to build vital infrastructure responsibly. The coverage has seemed one-sided at best to me, so I decided to seek out the other side of the story.

Environment versus economy. As Americans—and West Virginians—it feels like we are being told we must either choose our mountains and streams or our jobs and electricity because we can’t have both.

In an age of innovation and technological advancement in which we can build better, faster and safer, why should having both be beyond our grasp?

Protection Versus Obstruction

The construction of infrastructure, from pipelines and highways to airports and manufacturing plants, has always raised concerns, and the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) are no different. After all, any kind of major disruption to land and water should drive community members to ask questions and ensure that those overseeing the construction projects will handle these invaluable elements with kid gloves. However, some environmental protesters have taken this guardianship role to an extreme level in which they don’t just want to protect the environment. Without consideration for the economic impact of doing so, they want to eliminate the fossil fuel industry entirely, and they want to do it on the back of renewable energy sources

Renewables aren’t ready to stand on their own as the only—or even main—source of energy, though. According to Josh Fershee, a professor at West Virginia University College of Law and a globally recognized expert in the areas of energy law and policy, natural gas—which emits 50 percent less carbon dioxide than coal and 30 percent less than oil—is a natural match for a more climate-friendly energy mix.

“My experience and research suggest that natural gas is the path to more renewables because it works so well with intermittent resources like wind and solar—i.e., the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine,” he says. “Natural gas is so inexpensive that it is creating opportunities for renewables that were not clearly available before the shale gas boom.”

Dominion Energy, the leading percentage owner of the ACP, sees the importance of embracing renewable energy sources. In fact, it plans to become the most environmentally friendly utility in North America by investing in solar and other renewables. It would seem that if Dominion were to combine its resources and innovation with the protesters’ passion for fighting climate change, a happy medium could be struck, but common ground is elusive in this battle.

The Benefits of Pipelines

It’s easy to wonder why companies like Dominion and Equitrans Midstream Corporation, the operator of MVP, continue to fight back—until you consider the wide-reaching economic impacts of both success and failure. There is much to be gained in this fight, especially for the Mountain State, where natural gas production just makes sense. West Virginia has a long history of fossil fuel extraction, and the more recent shale gas boom has given the natural gas industry new life. Its possibilities are endless and wide reaching—but only if there is infrastructure to move the natural gas to where it can be used or sold.

A rich supply needs a strong demand, and that demand also exists in the region.

“In our neighboring states, millions of residential and business customers are being denied access to an abundant, reliable supply of low-cost natural gas found right here in West Virginia,” says Bob Orndorff, state policy director for Dominion Energy. “Once the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is completed, it will bring cleaner and more reliable electricity and lower consumer energy costs, improve air quality and help rebuild our manufacturing economy.

That’s right: pipeline infrastructure will contribute to the manufacturing renaissance sparked by the recent shale gas boom. According to Natalie Cox, communications director for Equitrans Midstream Corporation and spokesperson for MVP, the design and purpose of the MVP is to safely transport cost-effective natural gas to markets with growing demand, including local distribution companies, industrial users and power generation facilities

The economic impact for each state touched by these two pipelines is doubled for West Virginia because it would be home to a portion of both. Prior to having its permits revoked, the MVP was expected to create more than 4,500 construction jobs in West Virginia and generate $47 million in state and local taxes. ACP’s expected economic impact included 17,000 construction jobs for the three-state route and $4.2 million in tax revenue per year per state

Permits that Protect

The biggest objection to pipeline construction is the environment: the disruption of land, run-off into streams, impact on ecosystems, destruction of trees and interruption of habitats of birds and animals along the route. Protesters find no comfort in explanations of the many regulations that must be met and approvals that must be obtained prior to the start of construction, despite the extensive permitting process

“Interstate pipelines are heavily regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which works with multiple other state and federal agencies in the permitting process,” says Anne Blankenship, executive director of the West Virginia Oil and Gas Association. “The permitting process takes many years and includes everything from stream crossings and tree cuttings to the location of the pipeline route. It is a rigorous process with public involvement and opportunity for comments and objections along the way. Every potential impact is considered, analyzed and regulated.”

The ACP project was reviewed by more than a dozen state and federal agencies over a three-year period before receiving project approval in 2017. “No other project in our region’s history has been developed with greater attention to the environment,” says Orndorff. “With input from agencies and communities, more than 6,000 miles were considered for the pipeline route, and the plan was adjusted more than 300 times to minimize environmental and landowner impact.

What Lies Ahead

Despite current stop work orders, leaders behind both the MVP and ACP intend to move forward with their projects. Both have revised their completion dates and are making plans to put people back to work

The MVP project is now targeting a fourth quarter completion and is preparing to ramp up for late spring and summer construction activities. As of mid-April 2019, the total project work was 80 percent complete.

“We have been pursuing options and alternatives that would address the MVP’s outstanding issues and, if realized, allow for a fourth quarter completion and in-service date,” says Cox

Dominion Energy also hopes to get back to work on the ACP later this year. According to Orndorff, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service authorization appeal is scheduled to be heard in early May, and the company expects an appeal to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court by the end of May for the U.S. Forest Service vacatur. As of May, Dominion’s expectations were that construction would recommence during the third quarter of 2019 with full in-service in 2021.

“ACP has been the most thoroughly reviewed infrastructure project in the history of our region,” says Orndorff. “We are proud of our safety and environmental record and are confident we will prevail.

Finding Common Ground

With both sides of this battle determined to claim victory, common ground may be nothing more than a pipe dream, but the continued pursuit is worthwhile for all involved. Protesters want the public to believe the pipeline projects are an enemy to the environment, just like fossil fuels. For Orndorff, this could not be further from the truth

“Our commitment to protecting the environment is more than a professional statement,” he says. “It’s a personal commitment to our community. We live and work in the communities where this pipeline is being built, and we made a solemn commitment to our friends, family and neighbors that this will be done the right way.”

Fershee believes that finding common ground may still be possible, depending on the groups. “Some protesters don’t want any natural gas projects, period, so there is no way to appease them,” he explains. “I think regulators and the industry can appease some protesters, though, by having clear plans and strong protections built into their plans and approvals, as well as clearly demonstrating that all environmental impacts are being considered and weighed.”

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Both Sides of the Battle

There are two sides to every story, and the case for pipeline construction is no different. The Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter has published on its website six of its reasons for opposing the ACP and MVP. Here’s what members of West Virginia’s natural gas industry and those affiliated with the projects want the public to know about these concerns.

1.Pipelines will damage water quality with increased sediment and chemical pollution due to construction crossing numerous watersheds, rivers, streams, springs, wetlands and riparian areas.

Pipeline construction through waterways is heavily regulated by the EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the states in which they are located. Through the FERC permitting process, prior to construction these agencies ensure the environment is protected to the fullest extent possible. Strict requirements are imposed and enforced before and during construction by these agencies.

Anne Blankenship, Executive Director, WV Oil & Natural Gas Association

2. Pipelines increase our dependence on fracked gas and will generate at least 95 million tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to a recent report by Energy In Depth, the increased production of natural gas has actually significantly decreased greenhouse gas emissions nationally. In the Appalachian Basin, from 2011-2017, combined oil and natural gas annual average production grew 379 percent. At the same time, methane emissions from production in the basin fell 82 percent.

Anne Blankenship, Executive Director, WV Oil & Natural Gas Association

3. Use of eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way that landowners are unwilling to grant and causing significant decreases in property values.

The FERC has reviewed claims pertaining to land values and concluded that the presence of an interstate natural gas transmission line does not adversely impact property value. With regard to eminent domain, MVP has a history of providing just compensation for easements necessary for a project approved and deemed by the FERC to serve public need for natural gas.

Natalie Cox, Communications Director, Equitrans Midstream Corporation, and Spokesperson, MVP

4. Pipelines cross unstable and unsafe karst geology

The chance of a pipeline failing due to the sudden and catastrophic development of a karstic subsidence of rock or soil is highly unlikely, based on the history of existing installations. In fact, natural gas transmission pipelines have never been considered a risk to the karst environment in the Appalachian region by karst and/or engineering geologists when installed using trenching methods that adhere to responsible construction standards of practice.

Bob Orndorff, State Policy Director, Dominion Energy

5. The pipelines fragment more than 50 miles of national forest
property and cross the nationally known and highly popular Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Eastern Trail and Appalachian Trail

Project crews have worked diligently to develop plans to cross these resources carefully and responsibly. In fact, the crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway has already been completed and is in the restoration phase.

Natalie Cox, Communications Director, Equitrans Midstream Corporation, and Spokesperson, MVP

6. Compressed natural gas pipelines flowing at high pressure often leak and can explode.

The industry has reduced pipeline leaks by more than 90 percent over the past three decades, in large part by investing in new infrastructure like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This pipeline will have multiple overlapping layers of protection to prevent leaks and other damage. As for safety, natural gas pipelines are the safest form of energy transportation in the U.S.

Bob Orndorff, State Policy Director, Dominion Energy