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WV Close to Starting Construction on First Natgas-Fired Plant

For years Energy Solutions Consortium (ESC) has been trying to build several natural gas-fired electric plants in West Virginia, but have been prevented from doing so by Big Coal lawsuits. We recently wrote about this issue, naming names (see OVJA Exposed as Front for Murray Energy Blocking Gas-Fired Plants). It’s understandable that coal doesn’t want to give up its virtual monopoly on electric generation in the Mountain State. Some 95% of all electricity produced in the state comes from coal-fired plants. Last year then-WV Sec. of Commerce Woody Thrasher observed that Ohio has built 19 new gas-fired power plants, and Pennsylvania has built 22 new gas-fired power plants, while WV has built NONE. Why not? Because of Robert Murray, CEO and founder of Murray Energy, one of the largest independent coal mine operators in the U.S. Bob Murray is using a front organization called Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance (OVJA) to file a blizzard of frivolous lawsuits that have kept all new gas-fired plant projects from being built in WV. The best chance ESC has in building its first gas-fired plant is in Harrison County. Only one roadblock remains–an OVJA challenge to the project’s air permit previously granted by the West Virginia Air Quality Board. Kind of ironic that Big Coal is challenging an air permit for far-cleaner-burning natural gas. Coal pollutes the air way more than natural gas. The WV Supreme Court hears challenges to these kinds of permits. The paperwork has been filed with the high court. Once the court accepts and hears the case, which ESC thinks will be early fall, and the air permit is upheld, the first shovel of dirt will fly to build the $880 million Harrison County Power Station. An ESC rep recently updated Harrison County officials and labor union members about the status of the project…
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Harrison County, WV Commissioners Vote to Help Delayed Elec Plant

Last June, the West Virginia Public Service Commission held a public hearing in Clarksburg, WV on the proposed ESC Harrison County Power Plant project (see Public Hearing Held for Harrison County, WV NatGas Electric Plant). ESC (Energy Solutions Consortium) was founded by father and son team Andrew and Matthew Dorn, based in Buffalo, NY. The Dorns are behind a series of WV natgas-fired electric plants, the first of which will get built in Marshall County (see Progress for 3 WV NatGas Electric Plants; 1 Breaks Ground in 2016). At the public hearing last June, the only person to speak against the project was from the Sierra Club–opposed because the Clubbers claim the plant will contribute to man-made global warming. Whatever. The PSC reported receiving 540 positive comments, and one negative comment. What does that tell you? Last July we reported the project still needs a few more permits (air and water) and was jumping through multiple government hoops to get them (see Harrison County, WV NatGas Electric Plant Close to Final Approval). Here we are, seven months later, and the project is STILL not fully permitted! What in the world is going on in WV? Why is it taking so long? Harrison County commissioners, hoping they can further goose the process and get it dragged across the finish line, will vote tomorrow to issue a resolution giving their full-throated support for the project. Let’s hope their vote of confidence finally does the trick…
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Mountain Valley Pipe Gets FERC Approval to Begin WV Construction

MVP Map – click for larger version

Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP)–a $3.5 billion, 301-mile pipeline that will run from Wetzel County, WV to the Transco Pipeline in Pittsylvania County, VA, has just received permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to begin tree clearing and construction of access roads and construction yards in five West Virginia counties–Wetzel, Harrison, Doddridge, Lewis and Braxton counties. The work will be allowed only where MVP has already obtained leases from landowners. This is the first actual construction to be authorized for the project, a milestone! MVP was approved last October (see FERC Approves Atlantic Coast, Mountain Valley Pipeline Projects). However, five national anti-fossil fuel groups filed a lawsuit two weeks ago to try and stop the project (see 5 Radical Green Groups Sue to Stop Mountain Valley Pipeline). Let ’em try! Here’s the great news that even as you read this, it’s quite likely the chainsaws are up and running…
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How Soon Will WV See Chinese Money? “Immediately” Says Official

Last week’s big news that China committed to invest $83.7 billion in shale and petrochemical projects in West Virginia continues to reverberate (see China Agrees to Invest Amazing $83.7 BILLION in WV Shale, Petchem). Almost as soon as the deal was announced, so-called experts came out of the swamp to say, “Won’t ever happen, ain’t a big deal, move along, nothing to see here.” Such was how Bloomberg reported it (see Why $84 Billion From China Can’t Buy a U.S. East Gas Hub), and how the sometimes-swamp dwelling Wall Street Journal reported it (see A U.S. Natural-Gas Bonanza in China Isn’t a Done Deal). Such is the irrational hatred of Donald Trump and anyone who supports him, like WV Gov. Jim Justice. This is a time for celebration. The Chinese are sending money HERE, instead of the other way around, as it has been under Lord Obama and presidents going back for decades. Yet the swamp dwellers attempt to throw excrement on the good news. Let them. They expose themselves for the shallow, leftist shills they are. Here’s an important question on everyone’s mind: When will Chinese money begin to flow for some of these projects? The answer, according to WV Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher, is “immediately”–meaning within the next six months when ground will be broken on one, possibly two, natural gas-fired electric plants in the state. Below are insights into when the state will see the money, how the money will get distributed, and how this deal actually came together in the first place…
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Twin Eagle Sand Enters Marcellus/Utica with WV Transload Facility

Twin Eagle Resource Management, headquartered in Houston, TX, bills itself as a provider of wholesale energy and midstream services throughout North America. Twin Eagle also serves the upstream (drilling market) via a number of transloading facilities to ship and store frac sand. Currently Twin has five facilities, serving: Central Eagle Ford (Elmendorf, TX), South Eagle Ford (Laredo, TX), Powder River Basin (Douglas, WY), Permian Basin (Big Spring, TX), and DJ Basin (Evans, CO). You can now add a sixth facility–a frac sand transloading facility in Bridgeport, WV, to service the Marcellus/Utica region. Last week Twin Eagle Sand Logistics (Twin Eagle subsidiary) announced a deal to buy an existing frac sand terminal in Bridgeport from Process Transloading Bridgeport. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Transloading” is a simple concept. It means you ship the sand in via railroad, or barge, unload it, store it, and then load it onto trucks which haul it to well pads where it gets used to frack shale wells. Let’s give a hearty welcome to the latest entrant into the Marcellus/Utica supply chain! Here are the particulars of the Bridgeport facility…
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Harrison County, WV NatGas Electric Plant Close to Final Approval

In June the West Virginia Public Service Commission held a public hearing in Clarksburg, WV on the proposed ESC Harrison County Power Plant project (see Public Hearing Held for Harrison County, WV NatGas Electric Plant). ESC (Energy Solutions Consortium ) was founded by father and son team Andrew and Matthew Dorn, based in Buffalo, NY. The Dorns are behind a series of WV natgas-fired electric plants, the first of which will get built in Marshall County (see Progress for 3 WV NatGas Electric Plants; 1 Breaks Ground in 2016). At the public hearing, about the only person to speak against the project was the predictable nuts from the Sierra Club–opposed because they claim it will contribute to man-made global warming. Whatever. The time for public comments to the PSC is now over, and the PSC reports receiving 540 positive comments–and one negative comment. What does that tell you? The project still needs a few more permits (air and water) and is jumping through multiple government hoops now. However, ESC plans to have everything in hand, and the project bidded out, by the end of this year–with construction beginning early next year. Here’s an update on this vitally important, $600-$800 million project…
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Public Hearing Held for Harrison County, WV NatGas Electric Plant

Tuesday night in Clarksburg, WV, the state Public Service Commission heard public comments about a non-utility utility–the Energy Solutions Consortium Harrison County Power plant project. The project is a Marcellus-gas fired electric generating plant that will produce 580 megawatts of electricity to sell to the PJM power grid serving 13 states. Hence our label of a “non-utility utility” project. Technically, the project is not a utility because it’s not regulated with strict price controls, like “traditional” utilities. However, it will sell electricity to regulated utilities. ESC was founded by father and son team Andrew and Matthew Dorn, based in Buffalo, NY. The Dorns are behind a series of WV natgas-fired electric plants, the first of which will get built in Marshall County (see Progress for 3 WV NatGas Electric Plants; 1 Breaks Ground in 2016). At the PSC hearing in Clarksburg, the usual Sierra Club nutters came out to complain. But there were also pro-fossil fuelers there as well, to promote this $880 million clean-burning power plant that will create over 700 jobs while it’s being built…Continue reading

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Lease Offer in Harrison County, WV: $1500/Acre + 14% Royalties

It’s not often we read about lease offers these days. We’re sure they happen regularly, but the only ones you read about are offers made to lease publicly owned land. Such offers for public land are a useful gauge for private landowners. So when we noticed a story about an offer made by Arsenal Resources to the North Central West Virginia Airport (Bridgeport), our eyes and ears perked up. The opening offer is for 188.5 acres (out of 500 acres) with a $1,500 per acre signing bonus and 14% royalty on anything produced. The Benedum Airport Authority, charged with managing the airport and property, told the Authority’s attorney to counter offer–they want 15% royalties…Continue reading

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FirstEnergy Flips the Switch on New Marcellus Power Line

FirstEnergyFirstEnergy is one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. FirstEnergy loves the shale industry. We told you in December 2014 that FirstEnergy was planning to invest $100 million in new electric transmission projects to service the growing Marcellus and Utica Shale industry in WV (see FirstEnergy Investing $100M in Electric Projects for WV Marcellus). FirstEnergy’s construction crews have begun erecting steel poles for a new 18-mile high voltage power line that will run through Harrison and Doddridge counties in WV in April (see FirstEnergy Installs $92M Electric Line in WV for Shale Industry). Great news! FirstEnergy flipped the switch on the new line and the electric is now flowing…
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Progress for 3 WV NatGas Electric Plants; 1 Breaks Ground in 2016

energy-solutions-consortium-logo-1In April 2014 MDN brought you the exciting news that a father and son team, Andrew and Matthew Dorn (based in Buffalo, NY) would build a 549-megawatt electric generating plant, powered by Marcellus Shale, in Moundsville (Marshall County), WV (see Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant Coming to Marshall County, WV). The Dorns, who later named their company Energy Solutions Consortium, announced in March 2015 plans to build more plants in WV (see Big News: 3 More Marcellus-Powered Electric Plants Coming to WV). We have an update on the progress for all of the plants the Dorns want to build in the Mountain State–with a massive $2 billion investment. The short version: all projects are progressing nicely, and the Marshall County project will break ground this year…
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Marcellus Electric Line Vandalized in WV – $20K Reward Offered

jail cellFirstEnergy is one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. FirstEnergy loves the shale industry. In April, MDN reported that FirstEnergy’s construction crews had begun erecting steel poles for a new 18-mile high voltage power line that will run through Harrison and Doddridge counties in WV (see FirstEnergy Installs $92M Electric Line in WV for Shale Industry). The new $92 million power line project will help power both processing plants and compressor stations that flow Marcellus and Utica Shale gas. In what appears to be an act of environmental vandalism (terrorism?) somebody used a cutting torch to destroy 28 anchor bolts on a foundation, preventing FirstEnergy from proceeding with their work on the project. FirstEnergy is offering a $20,000 reward to catch the sleazebag that did the deed…
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Statoil Completes Sale of WV Marcellus Assets to EQT

StatoilIn May MDN told you that EQT, a major Marcellus (and Utica) driller based in Pittsburgh, had cut a deal to purchase all of Norwegian Statoil’s Marcellus assets in West Virginia (see EQT Buying 62.5K “Core” WV Marcellus Acres from Statoil for $407M). The deal gives EQT another 62,500 net acres and 50 million cubic feet per day (50 Mcf/d) of natgas production for $407 million. The acreage is located in Wetzel, Tyler and Harrison counties in WV. The deal includes 31 Marcellus wells and ~500 drilling locations. It bumps up EQT’s available drilling locations by a big 29% and shows the company’s continued commitment to the mighty Marcellus Shale. Statoil reports the deal closed last Friday…
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EQT Buying 62.5K “Core” WV Marcellus Acres from Statoil for $407M

EQT logoEQT, a major Marcellus (and Utica) driller based in Pittsburgh, announced yesterday it has cut a deal to purchase all of Norwegian Statoil’s Marcellus assets in West Virginia. The deal will give EQT another 62,500 net acres and 50 million cubic feet per day (50 Mcf/d) of natgas production for $407 million. The acreage is located in Wetzel, Tyler and Harrison counties in WV. The deal includes 31 Marcellus wells and ~500 drilling locations. It bumps up EQT’s available drilling locations by a big 29% and shows the company’s continued commitment to the mighty Marcellus Shale. How will they finance it? EQT released another announcement yesterday that says they are floating 10.5 million shares of new stock, hoping to get $67 per share for a total of $700 million for this deal and for “other potential acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.” Statoil is retaining ownership of its shale assets in Ohio and (for now) it’s non-operated Marcellus assets–i.e. joint venture deals where Statoil owns a portion of the lease but doesn’t do the drilling…
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FirstEnergy Installs $92M Electric Line in WV for Shale Industry

FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy building new electric line in WV – click for larger image

FirstEnergy is one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. FirstEnergy loves the shale industry. We told you in December 2014 that FirstEnergy was planning to invest $100 million in new electric transmission projects to service the growing Marcellus and Utica Shale industry in WV (see FirstEnergy Investing $100M in Electric Projects for WV Marcellus). Good news: FirstEnergy’s construction crews have begun erecting steel poles for a new 18-mile high voltage power line that will run through Harrison and Doddridge counties in WV. The new power line will help power both processing plants and compressor stations that flow Marcellus and Utica Shale gas…
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Dominion Employees Move into Swanky New WV HQ Office Building

Dominion New Bridgeport WV Office Bldg
Click image for larger view

Dominion Transmission announced yesterday that they have completed building a brand new 106,000 square foot office building in Bridgeport, WV and some 300 employees have moved into the new facility. Those 300 employees used to work at a facility in Clarsburg, WV, a few miles from the new facility. Dominion says they will continue adding employees at the new facility as they ramp up to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a $5 billion pipeline that will run from WV through VA and into NC. The new office building is the regional headquarters for Dominion’s 7,800-mile pipeline system. WV Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin was happy as a clam and said the company is committed “to the ongoing development of West Virginia’s natural gas industry.” Here’s more about Dominion’s swanky new office building in Bridgeport…
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WV Roustabout Company Sells Itself to Another WV Company

M&ABasin Energy, which acts as a holding company to invest in (and run) other companies located in the Marcellus/Utica, is based in Bridgeport (Harrison County), WV. Basin’s first acquisition was ProActive Services, an operator of natural gas pipeline compressor stations and other related oilfield services. On Sept. 1, Basin closed a deal on their second subsidiary–the Jane Lew (Lewis County), WV-based Starett’s Well Service, a specialty roustabout services firm, focused on well site and midstream natural gas infrastructure in the Marcellus and Utica Shale regions…
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