Pipelines

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

NEXUS Pipeline Files Draft Reports w/FERC, Rejects CORNy Re-Route
June 18, 2015June 18, 2015

Last Friday the NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline, a $1.5-$2.0 billion natural gas pipeline that will carry Utica and Marcellus Shale gas spanning 11 counties in Ohio, 3 counties in Michigan, and eventually connect to the Dawn Energy Hub in Canada, filed a full set of twelve draft environmental Resource Reports with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). A summary of the filing (included below) shows there are six large customers for the pipeline in Ohio (gas processors, utilities and large industrial companies). In addition to information about who will use the pipeline and the economic benefits that will come from the pipeline, NEXUS also filed information on alternative routes for the pipeline. Of note, one alternative route, proposed by the Coalition to Reroute NEXUS (CORN, which we’ve dubbed CORNy), is flat out rejected by NEXUS. CORNy wants to move the pipeline away from the Canton-Akron area. NEXUS says that’s a bad idea, for lots of reasons…
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Delaware County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Washington County

Business & Labor Unions Join Forces to Promote Pipelines in PA
June 18, 2015June 18, 2015

You don’t normally think of local Chambers of Commerce (business owners) and labor unions (rank and file workers) as breaking bread together. And they NEVER commingle their membership roles in order to lobby local, state and federal authorities on policy and regulation. Until now, that is. In Pennsylvania, two Chambers of Commerce on opposite sides of the state, the Delaware County Chamber and the Washington County Chamber, along with two labor unions, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) with 25,000 members and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 66 with 7,000 members, have all joined forces. And what has the power to cause management and labor to join forces? The Marcellus Shale. The four organizations together have formed the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance, a “broad-based coalition in support of timely approval for critical energy infrastructure in the Commonwealth.” The main focus of the Alliance is to promote the benefits and building of pipelines…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

Virginia RINOs in League with Dems to Stop Atlantic Coast Pipeline
June 17, 2015June 19, 2015

Here’s the tag line from Navigators Global, a Washington, DC lobbying firm: “From the trenches of political campaigns to the height of corporate crises, we’ve navigated the toughest terrain. Whatever your challenge is, we can guide you to victory.” Looks like they’ll need to consult to themselves since the company is facing its own corporate crisis. The founder and president of Navigators Global is Phil Anderson. Phil is one of the rich, gentry class anti-pipeliners behind a group called “All Pain No Gain” that’s trying to stop the Dominion $5 billion, 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline project from going through Virginia (and through his land). We highlighted a McClatchy article yesterday that talks about the efforts of the All Pain No Gain group in raising big money to oppose the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project (see VA Gentry Class Raising $1M to Oppose Atlantic Coast Pipeline). We’ve since learned that when Phil’s involvement with that anti-drilling group became known, his firm immediately lost a $20,000 contract with NextEra Energy, another pipeline company with a project running through Virginia (see EQT & NextEra Tie the Knot on WV-VA Pipeline Joint Venture). Beginning of a trend? Anderson is a Republican In Name Only, and he’s joined by other RINOs in his opposition to pipelines–rich, white landowners (the gentry class) who don’t want pipelines in their back yards. Another Virginia RINO pouring money into the anti-pipeline effort is Tom Harvey, chairman of the non-profit Global Environment & Technology Foundation…
Read More “Virginia RINOs in League with Dems to Stop Atlantic Coast Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Washington County

Cecil Twp Approves MarkWest Compressor, with Poison Pill Conditions
June 16, 2015June 16, 2015

Cecil Township (Washington County), PA, one of the seven selfish towns that sued to overturn a portion of PA’s Act 13 oil and gas drilling law granting them the right to retain local zoning authority over oil and gas related activities, have found their Act 13 victory to be somewhat hollow. As MDN reported nearly a month ago, Cecil has steadfastly refused to grant a permit to MarkWest Energy to build a compressor station since 2010 (five years ago!). After a lawsuit that worked its way through various levels of courts, and after Cecil exhausted all other options, a judge ordered them to grant the permit no later than May 30. Cecil proceeded to violate that deadline (see Cecil Twp Violates Court Order re MarkWest Compressor Permit). Last night, after intense last minute negotiations with MarkWest, the town finally voted to grant the permit, but not before sneaking in two last minute changes to conditions both sides worked out in advance, changes that will likely mean yet another trip to the judge. Seems Cecil is still intent on stopping the compressor station…
Read More “Cecil Twp Approves MarkWest Compressor, with Poison Pill Conditions”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Washington County

Robinson Twp Delays MarkWest Compressor, Approval Coming Soon
June 16, 2015June 16, 2015

This is a tale of two Pennsylvania townships. Both towns were part of the original seven selfish towns that sued the State of Pennsylvania to overturn portions of the Act 13 oil and gas law (see PA Court Says 7 Towns Can Keep Marcellus Money & Ban Drilling Too). Both towns share a border and both are in Washington County, PA. The residents of one town have clung to their anti-drilling views and continue to obstruct and obfuscate and block anything to do with drilling or pipelines. That town would be Cecil (see today’s story titled Cecil Twp Approves MarkWest Compressor, with Poison Pill Conditions). The other town, Robinson, has done a complete reversal. The residents of Robinson tossed their anti-drilling supervisors out of office, elected new ones, and have embraced the Marcellus Shale revolution happening around them (see Robinson Twp, PA Offers a Preview into Future of NY Frack Debate). Whereas Cecil is still trying to block a single MarkWest compressor station in their town, Robinson is moving forward with plans for a second MarkWest compressor station…
Read More “Robinson Twp Delays MarkWest Compressor, Approval Coming Soon”
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…
Read More “Poll: Majority of Voters in VA, WV, NC Favor Atlantic Coast Pipeline”
Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lorain County | NRG Energy | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Utica Shale

OH Agency Greenlights NRG Utica Pipeline to Feed Electric Plant
June 15, 2015June 15, 2015

Utility energy giant NRG, with loads of coal and natural gas electric generating plants scattered across the country, has just received the OK from the Ohio Power Siting Board to build a 20-mile pipeline from rural Lorain County, OH (where it will connect with a Dominion East Ohio pipeline) and connect to an NRG-owned natural gas powered electric generating plant in Avon Lake. The pipeline will flow Utica Shale gas to power the plant. Some landowners along the proposed route fought the plan, but the Ohio Power Siting Board rejected their claims there are better routes, saying NRG looked at all the possible routes. With the Board’s approval, NRG is taking the landowners to court with eminent domain cases…
Read More “OH Agency Greenlights NRG Utica Pipeline to Feed Electric Plant”
Broome County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | Lawrence County | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Williams

Tackling a Tough Issue: Compressor Stations Near Populated Areas
June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

There’s no denying that compressor stations located in populated neighborhoods create problems. We have two examples to share–one from Lawrence County, PA, and one from Broome County, NY (MDN’s backyard). The usual complaint about compressor stations–required to compress natural gas and send it on its way through a pipeline system–is the noise. Noise seems to be the chief issue with a compressor station in Lawrence County, PA where landowners, many of them (most? all?) have signed leases with Hilcorp, the company that owns the compressor station in Mahoning Township, a township that borders Ohio. Although noise has also been an issue at the compressor station in the Town of Windsor, NY (Windsor borders Pennsylvania)–about five miles from the border of the City of Binghamton–noise at the Williams compressor station is now largely mitigated. In the case of the Williams compressor, the concerns by those who live closest to it are regular releases of mercaptan and constant truck traffic to and from the station…
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Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Williams

Williams Transco Leidy Pipeline Ruptures in Lycoming County, PA
June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

A Williams Transco Leidy pipeline ruptured in Lycoming County, PA around 9:30 pm Wednesday night. There was no fire–and no one was injured–but families within a 3-mile radius were evacuated as a safety precaution. By 11:45 pm they were allowed to return home. Williams is not yet sure what caused the rupture–they’ve sent off a section of the pipeline to a lab for analysis. No word (yet) on how long before the pipeline is repaired and flowing again…
Read More “Williams Transco Leidy Pipeline Ruptures in Lycoming County, PA”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | EV Energy Partners | Industrywide Issues | M3 Midstream | Momentum | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Williams

Williams Buys Less of Utica East Ohio than Previously Planned
June 11, 2015June 11, 2015

In April MDN told you that Williams would buy out EV Energy Partners 21% share in Utica East Ohio (UEO)–a midstream/pipeline company operating in Ohio (see Williams Buys Out EVEP Interest in Utica East Ohio Midstream for $575M). The original press releases in April, from both Williams and EVEP, clearly state that Williams would buy the entire 21% EVEP share in UEO. But that didn’t happen. Yesterday Williams announced they have closed on an additional 13% from EVEP (not 21%) and for $357 million (not $575 million). The Williams press release says the other 8% share went to the other partner in the venture. You have to read the EVEP press release to learn that the other partner is M3 Midstream, otherwise known as Momentum. Seems a funny thing happened on the way to the forum…
Read More “Williams Buys Less of Utica East Ohio than Previously Planned”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pipelines | Regulation

Anti Drillers Demand DRBC Hold 7 Meetings on PennEast Pipeline
June 11, 2015June 11, 2015

Some 16 so-called “environmental and community” groups (leftist/socialist groups) are calling on the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to hold seven public hearings on the proposed PennEast Pipeline, a 114-mile pipeline slated to run from the Scranton, PA area to the Trenton, NJ area. Why stop at seven? Why not 10? Or 20? Or 50? Let’s have a public hearing every day of the week! The aim is, of course, to provide free publicity and a forum for anti-drillers to engage in their freak shows. We’ve watched plenty of them at the podium at these kinds of meetings–and yes, it’s a freak show. The DRBC, itself tending to the anti-drilling side of the isle, is trying to interfere with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) sole authority to permit or not permit the PennEast. Apparently there’s a bit of detente on the issue and FERC will hold one joint public hearing with the DRBC. The freaks, er, a “environmental groups” are demanding the DRBC up that number to seven–because two minutes allotted for each speaker in front of the microphones and cameras is just not enough…
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Energy Services | Enterprise Products Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Taxation

ATEX Express Ethane Pipeline Says it’s Tax-Exempt in Ohio
June 11, 2015June 11, 2015

School districts and local governments in 13 Ohio counties along which the ATEX (Appalachia-to-Texas Express) natural gas liquids pipeline runs, are miffed that ATEX doesn’t want to pay property taxes on the pipeline. The 1,230-mile ATEX pipeline originates in Washington County, PA and connects to four fractionators in the Marcellus/Utica Shale region. The pipeline, which crosses 265 miles of Ohio, went online in early 2014 (see Let it Flow! ATEX Ethane Pipeline Testing Now, Online Soon). State law stipulates that only pipelines classified as public utilities are liable for property taxes. Private, non-public utility pipelines are not on the hook for local property taxes. However, ATEX may be liable for Ohio’s commercial activity tax…
Read More “ATEX Express Ethane Pipeline Says it’s Tax-Exempt in Ohio”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Sunoco Logistics

PA Electric Co Spending $6M in Upgrades to Help Mariner East Pipe
June 11, 2015June 11, 2015

Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., is an electric utility that serves 600,000 customers in 31 Pennsylvania counties. Penelec also serves some of the electric needs for the Marcellus/Utica industry in the state. Penelec announced Monday that the company is spending $6 million to construct several new power lines and rebuild several others. Why? To serve natural gas pumping stations being constructed in central Pennsylvania by Sunoco Logistics’ Mariner East pipeline. Penelec is quick to add that the improvements will also “enhance service reliability” for 3,000 customers in the area as well…
Read More “PA Electric Co Spending $6M in Upgrades to Help Mariner East Pipe”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pipelines

PennEast Pipeline Hands Out Another $70,000 in “Grants”
June 10, 2015June 10, 2015

Another round of “largesse” has just been served up from the PennEast Pipeline (see PennEast Payola? Buying Support One Community at a Time). Don’t get us wrong–the organizations receiving the latest round of $70,000 in “grants” from PennEast are exceptionally worthy organizations–volunteer fire departments, after school programs, etc. We just a have a problem with the timing of it all (see our thoughts here: Will Companies Continue Making Grants after Pipelines are Built?). Here’s the list of the 14 organizations that each received a $5,000 check from PennEast this week…
Read More “PennEast Pipeline Hands Out Another $70,000 in “Grants””
Butler County | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants

ETP Announces $1.5B Revolution Pipeline/Plant Project in SWPA
June 9, 2015June 9, 2015

An important new project in the Marcellus/Utica was announced by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) yesterday. The project, dubbed the Revolution Project, includes a new 100-mile gathering pipeline system in Butler County, PA along with a new cryogenic gas processing plant to be constructed “in western Pennsylvania.” The processing plant will be called the Revolution Plant. A pipeline (called the Revolution Pipeline) will be constructed to connect the Revolution Plant to Sunoco Logistics’ Mariner East NGL pipeline to handle NGLs coming from the plant. Another pipeline will be built to connect the plant to ETP’s Rover pipeline to handle natural gas coming from the plant. Also part of the Revolution Project will be a new fractionation facility to be built at the Marcus Hook refinery in the Philadelphia area. Total price tag for the whole shebang: $1.5 billion…
Read More “ETP Announces $1.5B Revolution Pipeline/Plant Project in SWPA”