US Regulator Sets Limited Pipeline Construction Start
US regulator the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) on February 12 allowed Mountain Valley Pipeline to begin construction on the 486 km project, but only at a specific location in Giles County, Virginia.
The authorisation covers only a 19 km section, and specifically prohibits work within two historic districts located along that section. Earlier authorizations from Ferc allowed work to begin along a 16 km stretch at the start of the pipeline’s route in Wetzel County, Virginia and at various staging sites and yards in West Virginia.
On February 13, Ferc authorised construction to start on another 21 km section in Monroe County, West Virginia.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline project is designed to move up to 2bn ft3/day of natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica basins from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia, where it will connect with the Transco interstate transmission system. The project, at an estimated cost of $3bn to $3.5bn, is a joint venture EQT Midstream Partners, NextEra US Gas Assets, ConEdison Transmission, WGL Midstream and RGC Midstream.
The partners have targeted an in-service date in 4Q2018.