WAYNESBORO — Friday’s approval of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission generated predictable reactions from both those for and against the pipeline.
FERC voted 2-1 to green light the 600-mile natural gas conduit, 55 miles of which will run through Augusta County.
In issuing the certificate for the Dominion Energy-led project that will start in West Virginia and run through Virginia and into North Carolina, a majority of the FERC board concluded that the builders have “sufficiently demonstrated there is market demand” for the project, and noted that 96 percent of the natural gas capacity has already been committed.
Even with the federal OK, though, state permits and other hurdles remain for the ACP.
Dissenting FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur said she opposed both the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which also received FERC approval on Friday. The 300-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline also includes West Virginia and Virginia.
LaFleur said neither project “as proposed is in the public interest, and thus, I respectfully dissent.”
She said both projects represent a cumulative 900 miles of natural gas infrastructure, and involve “hundreds of miles of karst terrain, thousands of waterbodies, and many agriculture, residential and commercial areas.” LaFleur also spoke of the pipeline path crossing historic and natural resources, such as the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail.
The News Virginian – Bob Stuart – 10.14.2017
Posted by Nelson Bailey
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