Virginia

Diversified Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Industrywide Issues | Kentucky | Litigation | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | Virginia | West Virginia

Details for Surface Owners re Diversified Deal to Plug Wells
December 20, 2024December 20, 2024

In November, MDN told you that Diversified Energy and EQT Corporation had settled a class action lawsuit originally brought by several West Virginia landowners (see EQT, Diversified Settle WV Class Action Lawsuit re Old Wells). Diversified and EQT are ponying up $3.25 million each ($6.5 million total) with requirements for Diversified to plug more wells on an advanced schedule in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. Who, exactly, is affected by this settlement? A new court-ordered website provides some answers. Read More “Details for Surface Owners re Diversified Deal to Plug Wells”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Research | Statewide VA | Virginia

Va. Democrat Study Says Natural Gas Needed to Power Data Centers
December 17, 2024December 17, 2024

The left can no longer hide the truth, as they have tried to do for years. The truth is, with the advent of data centers and artificial intelligence and their enormous demand for new electricity, there is only one solution that will work, at least in the next 10-20 years: natural gas power. A Democrat-controlled panel from the Virginia legislature commissioned an independent study of how to power data centers. Northern Virginia has the highest concentration of data centers globally and remains the fastest-growing market for data centers in the country. The state must plan for how to get power to operate all of those installations. The independent study concluded that the only practical solution is to use natural gas-fired power plants. Read More “Va. Democrat Study Says Natural Gas Needed to Power Data Centers”
Diversified Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Kentucky | Litigation | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | Virginia | West Virginia

Details on Diversified Deal to Plug More Wells in WV, OH, PA
December 10, 2024December 10, 2024

One month ago, we brought you the news that Diversified Energy and EQT Corporation had settled a class action lawsuit originally brought by several West Virginia landowners (see EQT, Diversified Settle WV Class Action Lawsuit re Old Wells). There is the money aspect of the lawsuit, a payout of up to $6.5 million (subject to attorneys grabbing one-third of that). But then there is (in our opinion) the more important aspect of the settlement that requires Diversified to dramatically increase the number of wells it plugs over the next 10 years. Read More “Details on Diversified Deal to Plug More Wells in WV, OH, PA”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Regulation | Statewide VA | Taxation | Virginia

Circuit Court Judge Rules Virginia Can’t Leave RGGI Carbon Tax
November 21, 2024November 21, 2024

In 2021, as he was running for Governor in Virginia, Glenn Youngkin pledged that if he won, he would remove the state from the onerous carbon tax on coal- and gas-fired power plants called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Youngkin kept his promise, although it took longer than he had hoped. Unfortunately, the left-leaning (very partisan) Association of Energy Conservation Professionals sued. The judge in the case just ruled the way Youngkin removed the state from RGGI was unlawful and that the state must (for now) remain in the high-tax, onerous organization. Read More “Circuit Court Judge Rules Virginia Can’t Leave RGGI Carbon Tax”
Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Virginia

Mountain Valley Pipe Dinged Small Fine by Va. for Erosion Violation
November 21, 2024November 21, 2024

Antis did their best, but their best wasn’t good enough. Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) victoriously began to flow up to 2 Bcf/d of Marcellus/Utica molecules in June (see Confirmed: M-U Gas Now Flowing Through Mountain Valley Pipeline). Construction of the project, which crosses steep mountains, has not been without its challenges, chief among them erosion at some construction sites due to heavy rain. Of course, most of that erosion would not have happened if environmental groups had not sued, and had a colluding Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals not delayed completion of the project FOR YEARS. Shame on them for causing more environmental damage than building the pipeline on time would have caused. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently dinged MVP with another small fine ($17,500) for erosion violations. Read More “Mountain Valley Pipe Dinged Small Fine by Va. for Erosion Violation”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Anti-Fossil Fuelers File Appeal Against Chesterfield Power Plant
November 19, 2024November 19, 2024

Dominion Energy plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County, VA, near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. Even though these clean gas-fired plants will replace dirty coal-fired plants, anti-fossil fuelers, flying under the banner of Friends of Chesterfield, oppose the project. The group filed an appeal on Monday to the Chesterfield County Board of Zoning Appeals, challenging what they say is the county’s “inaction” to block the project. Read More “Anti-Fossil Fuelers File Appeal Against Chesterfield Power Plant”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Plan for Massive 3,500-MW Va. Gas-Fired Plant Slashed 91% to 300-MW
November 14, 2024November 14, 2024

Two weeks ago, MDN brought you the news that Christmas had come early with the announcement of a plan to build the country’s largest natural gas-fired power plant at a proposed data center site in Pittsylvania County, Virginia (see Massive Data Center with 3,500 MW Gas-Fired Plant Proposed for Va.). Balico, LLC applied to rezone more than 2,200 acres for a proposed campus that would include its own on-site gas-fired power plant complex using Marcellus/Utica molecules from the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The project hit major pushback from local residents and politicians, and just like that, Balico pulled the plan. Read More “Plan for Massive 3,500-MW Va. Gas-Fired Plant Slashed 91% to 300-MW”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Antis Opposed to Gas-Fired Plant Near Richmond Hold Fake Hearing
October 30, 2024October 30, 2024

Dominion Energy plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County, VA, near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. In early June, we told you that Dominion was actively looking at changing the location of the proposed project to locate the peakers at an existing power-generating site where two gas-fired plants now operate (see Dominion Plan to Move Location of 4 Va. Gas-Fired Peakers Advances). Dominion made the change in location official in August (see Dominion Officially Changes Location of Chesterfield Peaker Plant). Last night, a local anti group calling itself Friends of Chesterfield held a fake “hearing” to bloviate against the project that would keep their lights on. Read More “Antis Opposed to Gas-Fired Plant Near Richmond Hold Fake Hearing”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Massive Data Center with 3,500 MW Gas-Fired Plant Proposed for Va.
October 29, 2024October 29, 2024

We are super excited to bring you the news that Balico, LLC has proposed building a gigantic, massive data center in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Sound familiar? We’ll get to the location in a moment. The data center would be powered by its own on-site gas-fired power plant complex, with 15 30-MW Mitsubishi gas turbines. Truly incredible! We have not heard of a gas-fired power plant this big in the entire country. It’s twice as big as most large gas-fired plants. Pittsylvania County is where the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) terminates and connects with Williams’ Transco pipeline. Both MVP and Transco flow Marcellus/Utica molecules. This massive data center will use enormous amounts of M-U molecules if built. It feels like Christmas came early! Read More “Massive Data Center with 3,500 MW Gas-Fired Plant Proposed for Va.”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide VA | Virginia

Virginia About to Tackle Who Pays for New Power for Data Centers
October 18, 2024October 18, 2024

Just two days ago, MDN brought you a story about a developing issue of who, ultimately, should pay to build out new electricity sources for data centers (and AI) that increasingly use huge amounts of power (see Big Tech and Big Utility Tangle in Ohio re Data Center Electricity). A large utility company in central Ohio is tangling with Big Tech companies, including Amazon, Google, and others, about the commitments those companies should make before utility companies will risk investing billions to bring new facilities online. We predicted that this issue would pop up in other locations, too. And here we are two days later with news that Virginia is about to tackle the same issue. Read More “Virginia About to Tackle Who Pays for New Power for Data Centers”
Alternative Energy | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Virginia

Dominion Energy’s Wokified Plan to Use NatGas as Backup Only
October 16, 2024October 16, 2024

Dominion Energy Virginia yesterday issued its “2024 Integrated Resource Plan” to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) and the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). The document outlines a plan to meet rising power demand through significant investments in new power generation from “every source,” expansion and modernization of the power grid, energy storage, and energy efficiency programs. The problem is (from our perspective), the plan deemphasizes natural gas in favor of unreliable renewables, to the peril of Dominion’s customers. Read More “Dominion Energy’s Wokified Plan to Use NatGas as Backup Only”
Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Franklin County | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Virginia

With MVP Now Flowing, Roanoke Gas Looks to Add New Customers
September 17, 2024September 17, 2024

On Friday, June 14, Equitrans Midstream, the builder and majority owner of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) that runs from Wetzel County, WV, to Pittsylvania County, VA, announced the pipeline had, after a decade of planning and building, finally begun to flow Marcellus/Utica molecules (see Confirmed: M-U Gas Now Flowing Through Mountain Valley Pipeline). Who is buying the molecules flowing through MVP? We know of at least one company. In a separate announcement, Roanoke Gas Company (a large local utility) said it had begun to purchase M-U molecules from MVP on June 14. Roanoke Gas said for the first time since 1965, the Roanoke Valley now has access to a new interstate natural gas pipeline via two interconnections Roanoke Gas has with MVP. Roanoke Gas wants to expand its footprint and add new customers now that more gas supply is flowing via MVP. Read More “With MVP Now Flowing, Roanoke Gas Looks to Add New Customers”
CNX Resources | Energy Companies | Virginia

CNX Opens New Regional HQ in Va. to Tap Coal Seams for Methane
September 16, 2024September 16, 2024

Governor Glenn Youngkin participates in ribbon cutting in Richlands, Virginia on September 13, 2024. Official Photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Last Friday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin participated in the ribbon cutting at CNX Resources’ new regional headquarters in Richlands, VA. In addition to shale drilling, CNX extracts clean natural gas from waste methane in coal seams throughout southwest Virginia. CNX’s new regional headquarters in VA will house 75 employees, increasing the facility’s square footage by 85% and creating eight new jobs. Read More “CNX Opens New Regional HQ in Va. to Tap Coal Seams for Methane”
Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Anti-Fossil Fuelers Pack Dominion Open House for Va. Gas Plant
September 10, 2024September 10, 2024

Dominion Energy plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County, VA, near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes. Dominion recently changed the location of the proposed plant to occupy an old coal-fired power plant site (see Dominion Officially Changes Location of Chesterfield Peaker Plant). Even though these clean gas-fired plants will replace dirty coal-fired plants, anti-fossil fuelers, flying under the banner of Friends of Chesterfield, continue to oppose the project. Nearly 100 protesters showed up at the first of three open houses Dominion conducted last Thursday. Read More “Anti-Fossil Fuelers Pack Dominion Open House for Va. Gas Plant”
Enbridge | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation | Virginia

FERC Gives OK to Start Building ETNG System Alignment in TN, NC
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

In March of this year, MDN brought the news that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had approved an Enbridge project to update its East Tennessee Natural Gas (ETNG) pipeline system (see FERC Approves East Tenn. NatGas System Alignment in NC, TN, VA). The project is referred to as the ETNG System Alignment Program Project. ETNG plans to add two electric compressor stations and pipeline capacity in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Here’s something you don’t read about every day: The original target by Enbridge was to begin construction on the project in the second quarter of next year. Scratch that! Last Friday, FERC gave Enbridge its approval to begin construction on the System Alignment Project now, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Read More “FERC Gives OK to Start Building ETNG System Alignment in TN, NC”
Accidents | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Virginia

MVP Water Pressure Test Rupture Mystery Solved: Defective Weld
August 30, 2024August 30, 2024

On May 1, a section of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) ruptured during final pressure testing in Roanoke County, Virginia (see Section of MVP Ruptures Near Roanoke Under Water Pressure Test). An independent metallurgical test identified a defective weld in an elbow joint as a cause of the failure. No internal or external corrosion was detected on the section, which was installed in 2018.
Read More “MVP Water Pressure Test Rupture Mystery Solved: Defective Weld”