Dominion Energy

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

VA Gentry Class Raising $1M to Oppose Atlantic Coast Pipeline
June 16, 2015June 16, 2015

Wealthy landowners in Virginia are halfway to raising $1 million in their effort to torpedo Dominion’s planned $5 billion, 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Just yesterday we told you that a majority of residents in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina support the project (see Poll: Majority of Voters in VA, WV, NC Favor Atlantic Coast Pipeline). The pipeline will flow natural gas from the Marcellus/Utica to points across the southeast. That is, unless NIMBY’s raise enough money to run advertising campaigns to convince officials and regulators that this pipeline should not get built. Never underestimate the power of a bribe, er, a, “advertising” money. The new favorite phrase of those who oppose pipelines (watch for it in sycophantic media stories) is that pipelines are a “scar” on Mother Earth. How wicked and despicable to want to scar your mother…
Read More “VA Gentry Class Raising $1M to Oppose Atlantic Coast Pipeline”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Public Opinion | Statewide VA | Statewide WV | Virginia | West Virginia

Poll: Majority of Voters in VA, WV, NC Favor Atlantic Coast Pipeline
June 15, 2015June 15, 2015

The Consumer Energy Alliance, a non-partisan group providing consumers with sound, unbiased information on U.S. and global energy issues, recently published the results of a scientific poll of residents in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia that has major implications for pipelines and infrastructure work in the Marcellus/Utica. The poll found majorities of voters in NC, VA and WV have heard about Dominion’s $5 billion, 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline–and they support it. Voters overwhelmingly believe pipelines are the safest means to transport natural gas. More than 80% of the voters surveyed said energy will be a significant factor in how they vote. This is really good news for the shale industry. Seems we’re constantly bludgeoned in the northeast when it comes to pipeline projects (NY, MA, NH, et al). But not in the southeast. Voters there have their heads screwed on straight and can tell the difference between the truth and lie–and they know that pipelines like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline will be good for their region. Of course, voters in the southeast tend to be Republican/Conservative and sure enough, the results show that a large majority of those identifying as Republicans and/or Conservatives support pipelines, whereas a majority of Democrats/Liberals don’t. Pipelines, like drilling, are a partisan issue. It shouldn’t be that way! These issues should be decided on the science–but science was thrown out the window a long time ago. Drilling and pipelines–indeed your attitude on the use of fossil fuels–is largely determined by your political philosophy. Below we have a summary of the poll, along with the details (crosstabs), for those who want to dig into the nitty gritty…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | CNG/LNG | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Maryland | Processing Plants | Statewide MD

Earthjustice Asks Court to Stop Construction at Cove Point LNG
June 3, 2015June 2, 2015

Three weeks ago MDN told you about the frivolous lawsuit filed by Earth[in]justice attempting to stop the Cove Point, Maryland LNG export plant from being built (see DOE Grants Cove Point LNG Final Approval, Earthjustice Sues). Earth[in]justice sued on behalf of themselves (they are a small group of Washington, DC lawyers backed by Big Green money), and on behalf of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Patuxent Riverkeeper, and the Sierra Clubbers. Meanwhile, Dominion, the owner of the project, has pushed forward with construction at the site. Dominion is about to begin construction on the foundation of the new facility sometime in June, so Earth[in]justice has just filed another lawsuit–a request for a cease and desist order to stop Dominion from constructing the foundation until after their frivolous lawsuit has a chance to get in front of a sympathetic judge…
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Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

Atlantic Coast Pipeline Chooses Alternate Route in 2 VA Counties
May 19, 2015May 19, 2015

There’s been a course change for Dominion’s $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a 550-mile natural gas pipeline that will bring Marcellus and Utica Shale gas south to Virginia and North Carolina. Yesterday Dominion announced they will shift the pipeline in two Virginia counties to the “alternate” route–in Augusta and Nelson counties. Landowners, who are being contacted now, will know the alternate routes as the Augusta Industrial Park variation, the Appalachian Trail South alternate, the East of Lovingston Connector alternate and the East of Lovingston alternate (see map below). According to Dominion, the new routes will have “the least impact to environmental, historic and cultural resources.” Other sources say the reason for the change is due to very vocal opposition in Augusta and Nelson counties. It appears the new route will make a different set of landowners unhappy–but perhaps fewer will be unhappy than before…
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Blue Racer Midstream | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH

Dominion Says Their Pipelines Gather 80% of All Ohio Natural Gas
May 13, 2015May 13, 2015

The Guernsey County Energy Coalition heard from utility and midstream giant Dominion last week at their regular meeting in Cambridge, OH. Mack Smith Jr., Dominion’s manager of commercial gas services, had some fascinating things to say. One of them was this: “Dominion gathers about 80 percent of all Ohio gas and interconnects with seven major pipelines to distribute gas to markets, and to sell storage services to marketers and end users.” Did you know that Dominion gathers 80% of all Ohio natural gas? We sure didn’t! Here’s some more pickings from what Smith said last Thursday…
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CNG/LNG | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

DOE Grants Cove Point LNG Final Approval, Earthjustice Sues
May 8, 2015May 8, 2015

We have two big pieces of news to share with you today about the Cove Point, Maryland LNG export facility being built by Dominion. The first is that yesterday, after a years-long process, the Obama Dept. of Energy finally gave Dominion their final stamp of approval to build the facility. Last month we pointed out this last piece of the puzzle still had not fallen into place (see Cove Point LNG Plant STILL Waiting for Final DOE Approval?!). It now has. There is nothing else in the way to stop the project. Except, possibly, a lawsuit–which is the second big piece of news. On Wednesday we told you that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had finally, this week, responded to a request for a re-hearing on the facility demanded by anti-drilling groups. FERC declined (see FERC Says “No” to Anti’s Request for Cove Point LNG Re-hearing). As we explained on Wednesday, the groups needed an official response from FERC on a re-hearing before they could launch yet another frivolous lawsuit. As we predicted on Wednesday, they’ve now filed a frivolous lawsuit in another last-gasp attempt to stop the Cove Point export facility from becoming reality…
Read More “DOE Grants Cove Point LNG Final Approval, Earthjustice Sues”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | CNG/LNG | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

FERC Says “No” to Anti’s Request for Cove Point LNG Re-hearing
May 6, 2015May 6, 2015

In December MDN told you about the latest strategy from the anti-fossil fuel nutters at Allegheny Defense Project and Wild Virginia–an attempt to get another hearing on Dominion’s Cove Point LNG export facility (see Anti Groups Ask FERC to Stop Construction on Cove Point LNG Plant). Before the two can file yet another frivolous lawsuit with the aim of tying up progress on the plant in legal knots, they must first apply for a “rehearing.” They did so and requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have Dominion stop work on the plant in the meantime. FERC said “no” to stopping construction, and “we’ll get back to you in our own good time” on the rehearing. Five plus months later (yesterday) FERC responded, and as we predicted, they handed Allegheny Defense Project and Wild Virginia a big, fat “no” to the rehearing request. You can bet the frivolous lawsuit will get filed within the next few days…
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Dominion Energy | Energy Services

One Dominion Subsidiary Buys Another Subsidiary for $495M
April 29, 2015April 28, 2015

We always find these deals somewhat strange and kind of funny. One subsidiary of midstream and utility giant Dominion (Dominion Midstream Partners) has struck a deal to buy a sibling subsidiary (Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission) from the company mother ship, Dominion Resources. The purchase price of $495 million will go from one pocket to another pocket on the same pair of pants. Here’s the details…
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Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Randolph County | Regulation | West Virginia

USFS Approves Survey for Marcellus Pipeline in Mon Natl Forest
April 28, 2015April 28, 2015

In January MDN told you that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) was considering a plan to allow surveyors into the Monongahela National Forest (see USFS Seeks Comment on Pipeline Survey in Monongahela Natl Forest). At the time, USFS was seeking public comment on a plan to allow surveyors into the forest to chart a potential route through 17 miles of the Mon National Forest for the Dominion’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline–a 550-mile, $5 billion pipeline that will carry Marcellus and Utica Shale gas from West Virginia through Virginia and into to North Carolina. The section of the forest to be surveyed is located in Randolph and Pocahontas counties in WV. Good news! The USFS has decided to allow the survey to go forward…
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CNG/LNG | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Cove Point LNG Plant STILL Waiting for Final DOE Approval?!
April 17, 2015April 17, 2015

Something a tad strange caught our eye. Yesterday America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) released a white paper (copy below) and held a conference call to step up pressure on the Obama Dept. of Energy–with pleas to do the right thing and grant final approval for a list of LNG export projects currently on the list. Some of those projects have been waiting years for a final approval. We knew all of that–but one of the projects named by ANGA on the call and in the white paper is Cove Point. Which made us scratch our head. We thought Cove Point was already was already fully approved by the plethora of government agencies, including DOE, that need to approve it. We reported that Dominion began construction of the facility last October (see Dominion Breaks Ground on Cove Point, MD LNG Export Facility). Just last month Dominion threw a big party to celebrate the project’s approval and future prospects with no less than the Japanese ambassador attending (see Dominion Needles Anti-Drillers by Throwing Party for Cove Point LNG). But now here’s ANGA saying the DOE needs to provide a “final” approval for Cove Point. What gives?…
Read More “Cove Point LNG Plant STILL Waiting for Final DOE Approval?!”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services

Dominion Top Utility on Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers” List
April 16, 2015April 16, 2015

Congratulations to Dominion, a major midstream and utility company headquartered in the Old Dominion state–Virginia. Dominion is the top-ranked U.S. utility on Forbes magazine’s 2015 “America’s Best Employers” list. The company ranked 37th overall among the 500 employers in 25 industries that were included on the list, and was the top-ranked employer among all industries in Virginia. Dominion is attempting to build the $5 billion, 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina to bring cheap, abundant Marcellus and Utica Shale gas to the southeast (see Dominion Commits to Major New Marcellus/Utica Pipeline Project). It’s nice to see a quality company like Dominion get recognized for being a thoughtful, caring company and a great place to work–contrary to the hokey fairy tales told by anti-drillers about evil, nasty, Big Oil & Gas companies…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

Researcher Uses Official UVA Email to Oppose Dominion Pipeline
April 6, 2015April 8, 2015

UPDATE 4/7/15: Rick Webb provided a response to this MDN article, which we’ve included below.

The $5 billion, 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline project is scheduled to pass from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina bringing cheap, abundant Marcellus and Utica Shale gas to the southeast (see Dominion Commits to Major New Marcellus/Utica Pipeline Project). Many Democrats support the project, including Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. But not all Dems support it. As with all proposed pipeline projects in the northeast/mid-Atlantic area, there are fossil fuel haters (global warmists) who oppose it simply because it’s a fossil fuel. One of those organizations is The Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, a group set up and run by a retired University of Virginia environmental scientist Rick Webb. Although Rick retired last year, he continues to participate in supporting several research projects at UVA, including the Shenandoah Watershed Study (SWAS) and the Virginia Trout Streams Sensitivity Study (VTSSS). Rick recently sent MDN (and other media outlets) an email from his official UVA email account to promote his anti-Atlantic Coast Pipeline group. We wonder if UVA supports Rick’s anti-pipeline activities and knows that he is using his UVA email account (with an implied connection that UVA supports what he’s doing) to denigrate Dominion?…
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Alternative Energy | Dominion Energy | Economic Impact | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Jobs

Virginia’s Largest Electric Plant to be Powered by Marcellus Gas
March 27, 2015March 27, 2015

Yesterday Dominion, a huge natural gas and electric utility as well as a midstream company, announced plans to build the State of Virginia’s largest natural gas powered electric generating plant–in Greensville County, VA. (By the way, Dominion won the Award for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Northeast Oil & Gas Awards on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Well done!) The $1 billion project will produce 1,600 megawatts of electricity using combined-cycle technology–enough electricity to power 400,000 homes. Dominion will use Marcellus Shale gas to power the plant, provided by Williams’ Transco pipeline. The plant will also be fed by a second Marcellus Shale pipeline–Dominion’s own Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a $5 billion, 550-mile pipeline slated to run from West Virginia through Virginia and into to North Carolina (see Dominion Commits to Major New Marcellus/Utica Pipeline Project). Between just these two projects, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Greensville County electric plant, Dominion is pumping an astounding $6 billion into the economy of the Mid-Atlantic region, made possible by the miracle of fracking and the amazing Marcellus Shale. In addition to building the natgas-powered electric plant, Dominion also plans to build a large-scale solar project at the Greensville County site, which will make so-called environmentalists happy. Perhaps a spoonful of solar sugar will help the natgas medicine go down–in a most delightful way…
Read More “Virginia’s Largest Electric Plant to be Powered by Marcellus Gas”
CNG/LNG | Dominion Energy | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Statewide MD

Dominion Needles Anti-Drillers by Throwing Party for Cove Point LNG
March 26, 2015March 26, 2015

Dominion hosted a party yesterday and anti-drillers weren’t invited. Dominion’s party sported the Japanese ambassador the U.S., Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and other dignitaries–international, state and local–to celebrate the fact that the Cove Point LNG export facility is now under construction. Japan and India have together spoken for 100% of all the natural gas that can be liquefied and pumped through the new facility once it’s built and begins operations in 2017 (see Dominion’s Cove Point LNG Facility Achieves Important Milestones). As near as we can tell this was a party just to have a party. That is, there was no particular portion of the project completed or other “milestone” reason to celebrate. They just wanted to celebrate and (judging from the language in the announcement below) needle anti-drillers (the “doubters” who said it couldn’t be done) to point out that Dominion has won–and they have lost–despite their best efforts to scuttle the project…
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Dominion Energy | Education | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues

Dominion to Issue $1.5M in Education Grants in Energy, Environment
March 25, 2015March 25, 2015

Dominion, a major natural gas utility and midstream company operating in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia is looking to give away $1.5 million. But not just to anyone. Yesterday Dominion announced they will issue grants that focus on energy, environment and workforce development in the states and areas where they operate. ThepProgram awards up to $50,000 for higher education projects and up to $10,000 for K-12. But, you have to fill out an application and the application must be filed no later than May 15. What are you waiting for! Here’s the details from Dominion…
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Alternative Energy | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Grimm’s Fairy Tale: Big Tobacco + Big Oil Give Birth to….Solar?
March 19, 2015March 19, 2015

Here’s one weird and twisted bedtime story: Once upon a time there was a filthy Big Tobacco company. Big Tobacco hooked up with a wealthy (and equally filthy) Big Oil company and they had a baby. And the baby was…….solar panels?? Yep. Philip Morris, one of the largest cigarette manufacturers in the world has contracted with Dominion, one of the biggest utility/midstream companies in the Marcellus/Utica region, to install 8,000 solar panels at the Philip Morris facility in Chesterfield County, VA so they can make more cigs. It will be the largest solar installation to date in the state of Virginia. The only problem here is that the “bad guys” (Big Tobacco and Big Oil) are the heroes by installing solar instead of using natural gas. This is a real dilemma for the anti-drilling/anti-pipeline gang in the Old Dominion State. It may cause a brain hemorrhage…
Read More “Grimm’s Fairy Tale: Big Tobacco + Big Oil Give Birth to….Solar?”