Pipelines

Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation

NJ Pinelands Commission Chairman Replaced, Pipeline Back On?
February 3, 2016November 9, 2016

In January 2014 MDN brought you the story that due to incessant nagging from the NJ Sierra Club and the NJ League of [Liberal Democrat] Women Voters the Pinelands Commission, which oversees a stand of scrub pines in South Jersey, nixed a plan for a new natural gas pipeline to bring cheap, clean, abundant Marcellus Shale natural gas to South Jersey for use by residents and to feed an electric plant a local utility wants to convert from burning coal to natgas (see Sierra Club, LWV Chooses Coal over NatGas in South Jersey). In May 2014, NJ Gov. Chris Christie replaced two of the “no” voters on the Pinelands Commission, much to the consternation of the antis (see Marcellus Pipeline May Come to South Jersey After All). It was our hope that the plan to build the short 22-mile pipeline to bring natural gas to South Jersey would once again reactivate. So far it hasn’t. But perhaps there is new hope. Gov. Christie has just replaced the chairman of the Pinelands Commission with his own person in that position. The former chairman, who is a Republican (but caved to pressure and voted no on the pipeline) is not saying this is political payback, but he implies such is the case. We certainly hope it is…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Susquehanna County | Williams

FERC OKs Tree-Cutting for Constitution Pipeline – in PA
February 1, 2016February 1, 2016

In a crushing blow to anti-drilling radicals who have tried their best to stop the Constitution Pipeline, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has granted Williams, builder of the Constitution, permission to begin cutting down trees along the pipeline’s path in Pennsylvania. Williams still cannot fell trees in New York State, where the bulk of the pipeline will be built. However, FERC would not grant permission for PA unless they intend to grant permission on the other side of the border too–and everyone knows it. Currently New York’s anti-drilling governor, Andrew Cuomo, is holding up the 125-mile project that will deliver natural gas from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY by connecting with two interstate pipelines. Cuomo is about to create a constitution crisis in which the federal government will be forced to overrule the state and allow the pipeline to be built. Cuomo is withholding stream crossing permits–the only thing left before bulldozers begin to clear a path. Cuomo is once again caving to pressure from his lunatic left base of supporters. And he’s about to turn New York into a third-rate state, controlled by the federal government, through his unwillingness to grant the permits…
Read More “FERC OKs Tree-Cutting for Constitution Pipeline – in PA”
Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Research

5 New Pipelines Now Give Northeast Drillers Access to New Markets
January 29, 2016January 29, 2016

Our favorite government agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, continues to pump out the hits. Yesterday we highlighted a story from the EIA about the price of natural gas in the Marcellus/Utica gradually rising because new pipelines have provided new markets for northeast drillers (see EIA: New Pipelines Continue to Boost Marcellus/Utica Gas Prices). Today we bring you another great EIA story. This one does a deep dive into five pipelines that have come online in late 2015/early 2016 and that are now providing drillers with access to new markets that pay more for gas than they can get here at home…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pipelines | Regulation

Southern NJ NatGas Pipeline Approved by State BPU
January 29, 2016January 29, 2016

In January 2014 MDN brought you the very sad news that through bullying and intimidation, radical environmentalists from the New Jersey Sierra Club and the League of [Liberal Democrat] Women Voters had pressured the New Jersey Pinelands Commission into rejecting a plan for a 22-mile natural gas pipeline that would power an electric generating plant–replacing coal that powers the plant now–and also bring natural gas to residential homes in beautiful Cape May County, NJ (see Sierra Club, LWV Chooses Coal over NatGas in South Jersey). These so-called environmentalists would rather have the residents of South Jersey breath dirty air rather than clean air that comes from natural gas powering a local electric plant. We’re happy to report that a different pipeline, a $130 million, 30-mile natural gas pipeline just north of where the rejected pipeline would have run, has been approved by the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU). It is a major defeat of the Sierra Clubbers and their ilk. So of course, the Clubbers are suing…
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Commodity Price | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Research

EIA: New Pipelines Continue to Boost Marcellus/Utica Gas Prices
January 28, 2016January 28, 2016

It’s a pretty simple case of cause and effect, and economics 101. If you build more natural gas pipelines from the northeast to other regions, drillers can sell their gas to new markets. New demand = higher prices. And that’s just what’s happening in the Marcellus/Utica. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) pointed out in a recent Natural Gas Weekly Update that prices being paid in the Marcellus/Utica have gone UP because of new pipelines (see New Pipelines in the Marcellus Dramatically Improved Prices in 2H15). The great researchers at EIA have now expanded on that theme and have posted a new article on their Today in Energy which expands on that theme…
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Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

ISO New England: We Need More NatGas, Pipelines for Electric Grid
January 28, 2016January 28, 2016

ISO New England, the independent, not-for-profit corporation responsible for keeping electricity flowing across the six New England states, held a conference call/webinar on Tuesday. On the call, Gordon van Welie, president and CEO of ISO New England delivered a “state of the grid” address. On the call van Welie revealed that 49% of all electricity produced in New England now comes from natural gas-fired power plants–a number that will only go higher as nuclear and coal facilities are shuttered. According to van Welie, more gas-fired plants are needed, and pipelines like Kinder Morgan’s Northeast Energy Direct (NED) and Spectra Energy’s Access Northeast are needed to get cheap Marcellus gas to the region. Natural gas and electric generation are truly joined at the hip. The relationship is between natgas and electricity is tight and getting tighter as electric generation becomes a key market for drillers…
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Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation

FERC Investigates 3 Northeast Pipelines for Overcharging
January 27, 2016January 26, 2016

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has launched five investigations into four pipelines, three of which operate in the northeast, to determine whether or not those pipelines have been “substantially” overcharging their customers with the excuse of “we have to recover our costs.” Although you might think the free market would govern what pipelines charge, pipelines, like other utilities, don’t operate in a totally free market. You can’t just up and leave one pipeline and take your gas to another. The government grants permission to operate, and the government keeps an eye on the rates charged–just like they do with your local gas and electric company. In the case of interstate pipelines, the government agency monitoring how much they charge is FERC. Apparently someone complained and FERC is now on the case. The three pipelines in the northeast under investigation are: Empire Pipeline, Iroquois Gas Transmission System and Columbia Gulf Transmission…
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Crude Oil | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pipelines | Regulation

API & GPA Say PHMSA Regs for Liquids Pipelines Not Necessary
January 27, 2016January 26, 2016

Last October the Dept. of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for new regulations governing hazardous liquid pipelines. It appears to be another case of aggressive action by the Obamadroids, bent on hassling the fossil fuel industry by requiring unnecessary regulations that don’t really improve safety. They just cost more money and take more time. The new rules will require safety inspections after “extreme” weather events and natural disasters–just to be sure there aren’t any leaks. Stepped up inspections would be required even if no problems are found–just to be sure no problems are found. The new regs also require all hazardous liquids pipelines to be piggable–something not physically possible with some pipelines. The list goes on. Recently both the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Gas Processors Association (GPA) weighed in on the proposed new regulations. Needless to say they’re not impressed…
Read More “API & GPA Say PHMSA Regs for Liquids Pipelines Not Necessary”
Chenango County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

Cuomo Needs to “Snap on a Pair” and Approve the Constitution Pipe
January 26, 2016January 26, 2016

Constitution Pipeline Meeting in Afton – click picture for larger version

“What do we want? Pipeline! When do we want it? Now!” It was a raucous crowd who gathered last Saturday in the tiny village of Afton, New York to show support for the Williams Constitution Pipeline project. The River Club in Afton was jammed with people–by our estimation some 250-300 people. The meeting was organized and hosted by the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY). The JLCNY’s attorney, Scott Kurkoski (from Levene Gouldin & Thompson LLP) began the meeting with a full-throated yell: “New York Can’t Wait!” That simple sentence summed up the focus of the rally. The Constitution Pipeline is fully permitted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The only thing holding up construction of the pipeline is a stream-crossing permit from New York State. The tail is wagging the dog. Speaker after speaker (politicians, business people, labor reps) outlined the reasons why New York State can no longer wait for Gov. Cuomo to continue his waffling on this project. The frustration with Cuomo and the DEC was palpable in the audience. Whenever Cuomo’s name was mentioned there were cat calls and boos. Perhaps the best line of the day, from all of the speeches, was uttered by Assemblyman Clifford Crouch. Cliff mentioned he had called the Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) just a few days prior to ask about the status of the permits. Without saying so, the DEC rep indicated the delay is not due to the agency itself. The implication was clear: Cuomo is holding it up. Crouch then said this: “We need to contact Snap-on Tools and get the governor a pair to snap on!” The crowd roared. They loved it!…
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Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Con Edison Becomes a Partner in Mountain Valley Pipeline
January 25, 2016January 25, 2016

The $3.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) stretching from Wetzel County, WV to the Transco Pipeline in Pittsylvania County, VA filed an official application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last October (see Mountain Valley Pipeline Files FERC Appl, Now Just Matter of Time). It’s now working its way through the process. Along the way, the number of project partners expanded from the original EQT and NextEra Energy to include WGL Holdings, Vega Energy Partners, and RGC Resources. You can now add one more partner: Consolidated Edison. Con Edison is purchasing a 12.5% interest in the pipeline and at the same time signed a 20-year deal to buy/move 250,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas on the pipeline. In a related deal, Con Edison also agreed to a 20-year firm transportation agreement for 250,000 dekatherms per day on the Equitrans system, located in northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania, providing more direct access to supply resources upstream of MVP…
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Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Statewide WV | Virginia | West Virginia

US Forest Service Blocks Atlantic Coast Pipeline in National Forests
January 25, 2016January 25, 2016

Cow Knob Salamander

In the end it was the cow nobs and red spruce that have slowed down Dominion’s $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina. Specifically, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has refused to grant Dominion a special permit to cross teeny tiny sections of the Monongahela and George Washington national forests in West Virginia and Virginia. Why? Because of concerns about cow knob salamanders, northern flying squirrels and red spruce trees. Just last November MDN told you that Dominion and ACP were bending backwards, forwards and sideways to avoid running through cow nob salamander territory (see Dominion Files Pipeline Route Change to Avoid Salamanders, Swamp). Apparently the USFS doesn’t think Dominion’s plan is good enough. It’s now back to the drawing board to see where, in those regions, ACP can safely be run to avoid radical environmentalist demands. Of course the answer is “no where” as they are always unreasonable about these things. There is no “how can we work this out to your satisfaction” when it comes to nut cases. The antis simply demand, like petulant children, that you not do it at all. Which is just what the other side is now saying about ACP…
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Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation

FERC Takes it Time with 5 Marcellus/Utica Pipeline Projects
January 25, 2016January 25, 2016

“Your wait time is 12-18 months, please hold.” That’s what the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is telling midstream companies anxious to build new pipelines in the Marcellus/Utica. Five major pipeline systems representing $15 billion of investment are currently on hold while FERC runs through it’s sloooooow process of approval. FERC’s response/excuse is that it takes 12-18 months, period. Like it or lump it. The five pipelines now on hold in the southwest PA/eastern OH/WV area include: Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Rover Pipeline, Nexus Pipeline, Leach Express Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Rover filed its application with FERC last February, so they’re not even a full year into the process yet. The others filed later. Although industry groups are trying to pressure FERC (via publicity) FERC isn’t moved by calls to speed up the process…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Dauphin County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA

7 Antis Arrested at Final PA Pipeline Task Force Meeting
January 22, 2016January 22, 2016

Yesterday we reported on the very last Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force meeting, held in Harrisburg on Wednesday (see PA Pipeline Task Force Wraps Up – Did We Worry for Nothing?). Once again anti-fossil fuelers disrupted the meeting, which is nothing new. Last October a group of 20 or so antis showed up and behaved badly (see PA DEP Sec. Quigley Calls Pipeline Protesters “Badly Misinformed”). At Wednesday’s final Task Force meeting, seven protesters behaved badly enough that they got themselves arrested. To their credit, the Democrat-run PBS StateImpact Pennsylvania is the only “media” outlet that covered the news of the arrests…
Read More “7 Antis Arrested at Final PA Pipeline Task Force Meeting”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Pipelines | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

MA Town Plans to Raise Taxes to Oppose 1 Mile of NED Pipeline
January 22, 2016January 22, 2016

Part of the Kinder Morgan expansion of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline in New England, called Northeast Energy Direct (NED) is due to go through the Town of Warwick, MA. Warwick sits on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border. Town leaders are opposed to the pipeline running through their town. In order to fight it, the town has opened a voluntary fund that residents can contribute to, to help with legal fees. Apparently the town “fathers” (and “mothers”) don’t have much hope anyone is going to contribute, because they want to allocate money from the town–and raise residents’ taxes in order to do it. Some Warwich residents aren’t thrilled with the prospect, since they’re already taxed up to the eyeballs. Here’s the kicker: Only about one mile of pipeline will traverse the Town of Warwick. They want to soak taxpayers to oppose a project that’s one mile of pipeline. Really? Are they really that radicalized against fossil fuels?…
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Chenango County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Williams

Rally to Support Constitution Pipeline in Afton, NY Tomorrow
January 22, 2016January 22, 2016

As we’ve previously mentioned, a few times, there will be a meeting tomorrow in Afton, NY to support the Constitution Pipeline. The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) is sponsoring this rally to support the Constitution. MDN editor Jim Willis plans to be there–and we hope you do too. Meeting details are listed below. It’s time–in our opinion long past time–to sue the state and force the issue. It’s time to build the Constitution Pipeline!…
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Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA Pipeline Task Force Wraps Up – Did We Worry for Nothing?
January 21, 2016January 21, 2016

Looks like we worried for nothing. Yesterday was the final meeting of the PA Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force. When it was first formed last May, we worried that local gathering pipelines would get wrapped around a regulatory axle (see Disaster on the Horizon: PA Gov Wolf Creates Pipeline Task Force). The situation seemed even grimmer when Wolf and Quigley packed the task force with government workers–half of the 48 members work for the government (see PA Gov Wolf Packs Pipeline Task Force with His Own Minions). After months of squabbling, Task Force members produced a 335-page document with 184 “recommendations” last November (see PA Gathering Pipeline Draft “Recommendations” from Wolf Task Force). As we noted at the time, “recommendations” have a way of becoming “regulations” in the hands of LibDems. But it appears the Task Force was a paper lion after all. At least one prominent member of the Task Force (Democrat Sen. Andy Dinniman) is moaning that he thinks nothing will come of the work from the Task Force…
Read More “PA Pipeline Task Force Wraps Up – Did We Worry for Nothing?”