NEXUS Pipeline

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

FERC’s Glowing Draft Review of NEXUS Pipeline; Antis Respond
July 13, 2016July 13, 2016

NEXUS map – click for larger version

On Monday MDN brought you the great news that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has given the $2 billion, 255-mile interstate NEXUS pipeline a glowing draft environmental impact statement (see Spectra’s NEXUS Pipeline Gets Favorable Draft EIS from FERC). NEXUS is a critically needed pipeline to move Utica and Marcellus Shale gas from an over-saturated market in the northeast to markets in the Midwest and Canada, via a pipeline that traverses the state of Ohio. We have now what we didn’t have on Monday–a copy of the FERC draft EIS (see a full copy below). You can’t read it and not see the meticulous detail and work that has gone into researching such a project. To falsely claim, as do anti-fossil fuel nutters, that FERC is simply a “rubber stamp” for Big Oil & Gas is not supported by documents like this one. Although the review is glowing, there is one teeny, tiny criticism/suggestion from FERC recommending an alternative route near Green, Ohio. The anti-drilling group CORNballs (our name for CORN, or COalition to Reroute Nexus), is glomming on to that tiny crack of the door and plans to drive a Mack truck through it…
Read More “FERC’s Glowing Draft Review of NEXUS Pipeline; Antis Respond”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

Spectra’s NEXUS Pipeline Gets Favorable Draft EIS from FERC
July 11, 2016July 11, 2016

Nexus Pipeline Route – click for larger version

The NEXUS Pipeline is a $2 billion, 255-mile interstate pipeline that will run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada (see Spectra Energy Files Formal FERC Application for NEXUS Pipeline). It is a critically needed pipeline to move Utica and Marcellus Shale gas from an over-saturated market in the northeast to markets in the Midwest and Canada. One of the first and key parts of getting a pipeline approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is to submit the project for an environmental impact statement (EIS), performed by FERC. Good news. NEXUS received word late last week that FERC has granted the project a favorable draft EIS. That means FERC is of the opinion that the project will not unduly harm the local environment where it is to get built. A favorable EIS is an indication that FERC will grant its full approval for the project (in due time)…
Read More “Spectra’s NEXUS Pipeline Gets Favorable Draft EIS from FERC”
Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

NEXUS Awards Contracts to Build Pipeline – Union & Non-Union Labor
June 16, 2016June 16, 2016

NEXUS map – click for larger version

Spectra Energy has awarded four contracts to three companies to build the NEXUS Pipeline–a $2 billion, 255-mile interstate pipeline that will run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada. Two of the three companies will use union labor, the third will not–and that’s causing some pushback from labor groups in Ohio. A NEXUS rep said that 79% of the pipeline will be built by union labor. Labor unions would prefer that percentage be 100. Spectra/NEXUS guaranteed at least 50% of the labor would be union–so the contracts far exceed their promise. A dollar figure was not released for the work. Here’s who got the work to build NEXUS…
Read More “NEXUS Awards Contracts to Build Pipeline – Union & Non-Union Labor”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Michigan | NEXUS Pipeline | Regulation | Statewide MI

DTE Energy Wants Ratepayers to Pay if NEXUS Pipe is Unprofitable
June 15, 2016June 15, 2016

NEXUS Pipeline Project – click for larger version

DTE Energy is a Detroit-based energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. DTE’s businesses include power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. DTE has its fingers in a lot of energy pies. DTE is one of the main customers for the 255-mile, $2 billion NEXUS interstate pipeline that will run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada (see Spectra Energy Files Formal FERC Application for NEXUS Pipeline). DTE is also one of the backers/partners in NEXUS–providing money for the project. Spectra Energy will be the managing partner that actually builds and maintains NEXUS. DTE has asked Michigan regulators for a guarantee that it can pass along NEXUS costs to gas and electric ratepayers IF the utility’s gas supply costs from NEXUS prove to be unprofitable. That doesn’t sit well with many people, including Michigan’s Attorney General…
Read More “DTE Energy Wants Ratepayers to Pay if NEXUS Pipe is Unprofitable”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

CORNballs Claim Most OH Landowners Won’t Sign NEXUS Pipeline Lease
June 10, 2016June 10, 2016

The NEXUS Pipeline is a $2 billion, 255-mile interstate pipeline that will run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada (see Spectra Energy Files Formal FERC Application for NEXUS Pipeline). It is a critically needed pipeline to move Utica and Marcellus Shale gas from an over-saturated market in the northeast to markets in the Midwest and Canada. A group of anti-fossil fuelers calling themselves the Coalition to Reroute Nexus, or CORN, is trying to stop the project (not reroute it). We affectionately call the nutters, “CORNballs” here at MDN. Earlier this year the CORNballs tried to incite trouble by telling landowners to call the police if NEXUS surveyors showed up on their doorstep to ask permission to survey (see CORNballs Tell OH Landowners to Call Police & AG to Stop Pipeline). The CORNballs are back, claiming that the vast majority of landowners along the proposed route for NEXUS have not, and will not, sign an easement to allow the pipeline…
Read More “CORNballs Claim Most OH Landowners Won’t Sign NEXUS Pipeline Lease”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Marathon Petroleum | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

Updates on 3 Major OH Pipelines at Utica Midstream Seminar
June 9, 2016June 9, 2016

Some 160 people showed up for the Utica Midstream Seminar held yesterday at the National Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. The event, sponsored by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and ShaleDirectories.com, provided updates on three major pipeline projects either under construction or soon to be under construction in the Buckeye State: Marathon Petroleum’s Cornerstone Pipeline, Spectra Energy’s NEXUS pipeline project, and Energy Transfer’s Rover pipeline project. Here’s what reps from each organization had to say about their respective projects…
Read More “Updates on 3 Major OH Pipelines at Utica Midstream Seminar”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

Why is UTOPIA Pipeline Less “Controversial” than NEXUS in Ohio?
April 18, 2016April 18, 2016

UTOPIA Pipeline map – click for larger version

For some reason antis in Ohio seem to have more of a problem with Spectra Energy’s proposed NEXUS natural gas pipeline than with Kinder Morgan’s UTOPIA ethane pipeline–at least that’s what the Toledo Blade claims. The NEXUS is a $2 billion, 255-mile interstate pipeline that will run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada (see Spectra Energy Files Formal FERC Application for NEXUS Pipeline). It is a critically needed pipeline to move Utica and Marcellus Shale gas from an over-saturated market in the northeast to markets in the Midwest and Canada. UTOPIA is a 12-inch ethane pipeline will run 240 miles and will only be built in Ohio before it connects to another pipeline that goes to Canada–therefore the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) won’t be involved in permitting UTOPIA. As we’ve previously noted, it seems like there’s been very little opposition to UTOPIA (see UTOPIA Ethane Pipeline Faces Virtually No Opposition in OH). It also seems the antis believe the NEXUS is more of a threat than UTOPIA–even though pipelines are THE safest form of transportation in the country, bar none…
Read More “Why is UTOPIA Pipeline Less “Controversial” than NEXUS in Ohio?”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Meetings | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Research | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Utica Event: OH Landowners Will Lose $6.5B in 5 Yrs, NEXUS May Get Nixed
April 8, 2016April 17, 2016

4/17/16 NOTE: Spectra Energy contacted MDN to express concerns that our headline leaves the wrong impression. A Spectra spokesman commented: “The story, particularly the headline, portrays the NEXUS Gas Transmission project as being canceled. This is untrue; NEXUS filed a Certificate Application with the FERC in November of 2015 and has consistently met its regulatory milestones since that time. The project is on schedule and we anticipate FERC issuing its approval to proceed in the second-half of 2016, thereby allowing us to achieve our in-service date of late 2017.” MDN does not mean to imply the project won’t happen–the speaker at the conference we reported on is the one saying that. We’re simply reporting what she said, which we found newsworthy. Spectra takes issue with the opinion that the project may get canceled–they are committed to building it. We have modified the shorter headline that did say “NEXUS Nixed” to say “NEXUS May Get Nixed” to be more accurate. We regret any wrong impression it may have left. Make no mistake, MDN hopes NEXUS happens! We’re rooting for it!

On Wednesday, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and ShaleDirectories.com co-hosted the Utica Upstream conference at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. By all accounts we’ve read, it was an excellent event. (Note: ShaleDirectories is partnering with Sourcewater to present UpStream PA 2016 in State College on April 19). We spotted several articles about Utica Upstream, and all of them focused totally, or in part, on the presentation made by Maria Cortez of energy research firm/consultant Wood Mackenzie. Cortez was clearly the bell of the ball. Among her observations on Wednesday: Ohio landowners will lose $6.5 billion in lost income in the next five years thanks to the drilling slowdown; drillers will buy out other drillers at a rapid pace this year and next; the Utica needs at least 11 rigs to keep production at current levels (right now they’re running 11!); some 150-250 drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) will be the focus for drillers for the time being; and the NEXUS pipeline likely will NOT get built. But wait, there’s more!…
Read More “Utica Event: OH Landowners Will Lose $6.5B in 5 Yrs, NEXUS May Get Nixed”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH

CORNballs Tell OH Landowners to Call Police & AG to Stop Pipeline
March 31, 2016March 31, 2016

MDN has written a number of stories about CORN–the COalition to Reroute NEXUS (see our stories here). The CORNballs have just resurfaced to pedal more obstructionist advice, hoping to incite a riot against a simple pipeline in Ohio. Do you know how many thousands of miles of pipelines already exist in Ohio–and have for generations? And yet this group falsely paints a picture of environmental holocaust if one more pipeline is built in the Buckeye State. Like community organizers everywhere, CORN is attempting to foment civil unrest and create an atmosphere where there are potential clashes between landowners, the pipeline company, and local law enforcement. They hope and pray for an “incident” that they can use as publicity to paint the pipeline as evil and uncaring about landowners. It’s all bilge–every last bit of it. Here’s the latest PR offensive from the CORNballs of Ohio…
Read More “CORNballs Tell OH Landowners to Call Police & AG to Stop Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Fulton County | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Medina County | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

Intervenor Contagion Catching on with Radical Green Groups in NE
January 5, 2016January 5, 2016

Like a contagion moving through the small-but-dedicated anti-fossil fuel movement in the northeast, the strategy of filing as an “intervenor” in pipeline permitting is catching on. MDN first alerted you to this sleazy tactic being used by THE Delaware Riverkeeper back in October 2015 (see Delaware Riverkeeper Scams FERC in Review of PennEast Pipeline). In short, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has a process known as a motion to intervene. Individuals, towns and organizations with a vested, *legitimate* interest can file to “intervene” in a pipeline project application, which gives them special standing to receive updates from FERC and to ensure their views are fully considered by FERC. THE Delaware Riverkeeper and others began registering everyone–including their own children–as “intervenors” which essentially overloads FERC’s system and greatly slows down the permitting process (ses FERC Confirms “Intervenors” Slowing Down Pipeline Approvals). It is an abuse of the system–but then anti groups are no strangers to violating the rules, or laws. They revel in “catch me if you can” behavior. Intervenor abuse is catching in Massachusetts where radical greens are trying the same tactic to slow down approvals for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Northeast Energy Direct (NED) project. Radical greens in Ohio are also using the tactic to try and slow down approvals for the NEXUS pipeline there. The intervenor contagion has now spread from PA to MA to OH, with no end in sight…
Read More “Intervenor Contagion Catching on with Radical Green Groups in NE”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH

CORN Questions Canadian Decision to Buy American NatGas via NEXUS
December 23, 2015December 23, 2015

On Monday MDN told you that the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has cleared the way for the Canadian portion of the NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline by approving two 15-year contracts to use the pipeline to deliver natural gas to the Dawn Hub (see Canada Approves Marc/Utica NEXUS Pipeline to Dawn Hub in Ontario). A group of anti-fossil fuel radicals who call themselves CORN (Coalition to Reroute NEXUS) has popped up to manufacture a controversy where none exists. Apparently one or two staffers at the OEB offered a dissenting opinion (as is often the case) for why the two contracts for the NEXUS should not be granted. Somehow those internal documents were leaked to the CORNballs (our name for members of CORN) who are now attempting to claim the OEB ignored the recommendation of its own staff and approved the contracts when (according to CORN) it should not have. We wonder if the CORNballs know that an average 7 billion cubic feet of natural gas flows from Canada to the United States every day, and that an average 1.5 Bcf/d flows from the U.S. to Canada every day? Do they know that gas has been going back and forth across our border with Canada for decades? Why do they oppose this particular pathway of trade with Canada, which would strengthen ties with our friends to the north?…
Read More “CORN Questions Canadian Decision to Buy American NatGas via NEXUS”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH

Columbus Law Firm: How to Get the Best Pipeline Easement Deal
December 22, 2015December 22, 2015

Goldman & Braunstein is a Columbus, OH law firm that’s carved a niche out of representing landowners in eminent domain disputes with pipeline companies. Earlier this year the firm asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to disallow Energy Transfer Partners’ use of eminent domain in building the ET Rover pipeline (see OH Law Firm Asks FERC to Stop ET Rover Pipeline Eminent Domain). Michael Braunstein and Bill Goldman are at it again. Last week they held a meeting in Huron County, OH to advise landowners who potentially face eminent domain action by the NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline project. They offer some good counsel. But make no mistake–they’re there to drum up business. Goldman & Braunstein do not say landowners can block the pipeline from coming through their property. What they do say is that their firm can get landowners a better deal, and ensure pipeline installation is “put in properly” by using (yep) Goldman & Braunstein. The firm believes landowners should be paid “over $100 per foot” for any deal they do with NEXUS. That’s the highest per-foot price we’ve ever heard of when it comes to pipeline easements. If they can pull that off, more power to ’em!…
Read More “Columbus Law Firm: How to Get the Best Pipeline Easement Deal”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Pipelines | Regulation | Spectra Energy

Canada Approves Marc/Utica NEXUS Pipeline to Dawn Hub in Ontario
December 21, 2015December 21, 2015

Everybody always talks about the Henry Hub, which is the natural gas delivery point where more physical natural gas is bought and sold than any other single location in North America. However, do you know what the second largest physically traded gas hub in North America is? We just learned this interesting factoid ourselves. The #2 location for trading natural gas, after the Henry Hub, is the Dawn Hub in southwestern Ontario (Canada)–not far from the border of Michigan. The Dawn Hub is in the news because of the NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline project. Last week the Ontario Energy Board approved applications from Union Gas Limited and Enbridge Gas Distribution to move gas along the NEXUS, once its built, to the Dawn Hub. In other words, Canada has just approved the Canadian portion of the NEXUS project. We’re glad Canada isn’t holding grudges against the U.S after the Obama Administration obtusely rejected the Keystone XL pipeline project, a Canadian pipeline coming through the U.S. Here’s the good news from Spectra Energy on Canada’s approval of NEXUS…
Read More “Canada Approves Marc/Utica NEXUS Pipeline to Dawn Hub in Ontario”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

Jimmy Stewart Makes the Case for NEXUS Gas Pipeline in Ohio
December 1, 2015December 1, 2015

Jimmy Stewart, president OGA

Jimmy Stewart (no, not that one, another one!) is the former Majority Leader of the Ohio Senate. After his days in the Senate, Stewart joined the Ohio Gas Association as its President. Perhaps feeling the need to push back against the steady drumbeat of negativity coming from anti-frackers who also oppose pipelines in the Buckeye State, Stewart wrote a powerful guest column for the Cleveland Plain Dealer to make the case for major new natural gas pipelines in general, and to make the case for Spectra Energy’s NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline in particular. Here is that powerful column…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Michigan | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Spectra Energy | Statewide MI | Statewide OH

Spectra Energy Files Formal FERC Application for NEXUS Pipeline
November 23, 2015November 23, 2015

Pop the cork on the champagne bottle! Last Friday Spectra Energy and its partners filed their full, formal application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to get the federal agency’s approval for the NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline project. The NEXUS is a $2 billion, 255-mile interstate pipeline that will run from Ohio through Michigan and eventually to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada. It is a critically needed pipeline to move Utica and Marcellus Shale gas from an over-saturated market in the northeast to markets in the Midwest and Canada. Below is the official good news press release from Spectra Energy announcing the filing…
Read More “Spectra Energy Files Formal FERC Application for NEXUS Pipeline”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Research | Spectra Energy | Statewide OH

OH Grange Issues New Study, Supports NEXUS & Rover Pipelines
November 20, 2015November 20, 2015

The people who are most affected by pipelines being built across their property are farmers–that’s a fact. Farmers often have questions and concerns when a new pipeline project is proposed that will cross their land, rightfully so. They’re cautious, they’re careful, they have a vested interest in preserving their land. So it’s big news that the Ohio State Grange, part of the nation’s oldest national agricultural advocacy group, has endorsed both the Rover and NEXUS pipelines in the Buckeye State. Energy Transfer’s Rover is a big, $4.2 billion, 711-mile new pipeline project from the Midwest Hub near Defiance, OH to Livingston County, MI, connecting with the Vector pipeline. Spectra Energy’s NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline project is a $2 billion pipeline that will carry Utica/Marcellus gas through OH, MI, and eventually connect to the Dawn Energy Hub in Canada. The Grange’s support of these two projects is a big deal. As part of their announcement, the Ohio Grange released a new report titled, “Natural Gas Pipeline Infrastructure and Its Impact on Michigan and Ohio Agriculture” (full copy below) which finds, among other things, that there is no SAFER way to transport natural gas than by underground pipeline…
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