Aiming to arrive in 2018, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is estimated to span roughly 550 miles in the Atlantic Coast region. The route of the pipeline will start in West Virginia, run through Virginia, and then end in the eastern part of North Carolina.
The four main companies that are behind the extensive project are Dominion Power, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and AGL. One reason for the proposal was the need for a pipeline to connect to other interstate natural gas pipelines as well as to meet the current and growing needs of electric generation by natural gas power stations.
One of the main purposes of the pipeline is to heat more homes and businesses as the population continues to grow at a steadyrate. The pipeline would service the needs of both North Carolina and Virginia.
Frank Mack, the media consultant with Dominion Power, says, “...with a project like this, or with any major project, if it’s electric transmission line, or if it’s a new interstate highway, there is always going to be people not in favor of the project.” He continued, “(Dominion) has been trying to be as transparent as possible from the get-go to help them understand the benefits.”
The project would bring in millions of dollars in annual property tax revenue in the counties in which the pipeline would be running through. The project would also bring both temporary and permanent jobs to the areas. The project itself is estimated to cost $4.5-$5 billion.
Before the construction can begin, the four energy sources need to receive approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to move forward with the development.
According to Mack, based on past decisions, this could take at most 10-12 months to make a decision which would schedule the pipeline construction to start in 2016 and begin service in late 2018 with multiple contractors building in numerous places at the same time.
“In general we have broad support for the project with pockets of resistance. We feel it’s relatively small. We have governors in all three states that come out in favor of it. We also have more than 150 businesses and organizations that have signed up in support,” says Mack.
The project has reached 85% in favor, leaving roughly 10% opposed to the idea along the 550 mile route. Although the project has received more support than opposition, the main concern of Dominion Power, along with the other companies, is that the “…property owners do not want the pipeline on their property” along with benefits they feel will not pertain to them.
The placement of the pipeline also raises concerns for those who feel the environmental damages are just too great of a risk with such a project.
Lewis Freeman, the chairman for Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, states, “The bottom line is that we believe the serious threats (of the pipeline) are to water supplies not only with wells but with town water in Augusta County, as well as threats to ecology that could disturb delicate species both plant and animal, and also structural problems...like mountainous terrains.”
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline could bring other environmental issues such as heavy erosion. According to Rick Webb, the coordinator for the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, it would “...result in heavy erosion, endangering trout streams inhabiting very sensitive fish...” He also says he has “...never seen it (pipeline construction) done properly.” Webb predicts that the pipeline route would “...cut through habitats vulnerable to extinction, such as the salamander species that reside in underground systems.”
Because the project has yet to begin, results of the pipeline, including possible benefits to communities or potential harm to the environment will ultimately be determined as it is built.
