Route of proposed W.Va.-Va. pipeline revised
ROANOKE, Va. – Energy companies revised the route of a proposed natural gas pipeline that would run from West Virginia to Virginia.
The new route for the Mountain Valley Pipeline would exclude Floyd, Pulaski and Henry counties in Virginia, which previously were considered. A portion of Roanoke County in Virginia was added to the route, a map posted on the project’s website, mountainvalleypipeline.info, shows.
EQT Corp. and NextEra Energy Inc. are teaming up on the project, which would extend EQT’s gas transmission system about 300 miles from Wetzel County in West Virginia, to another pipeline in Pittsylvania County in Virginia.
The revised route will minimize the pipeline’s impact to scenic areas along the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. It reflects the joint venture’s “continuing efforts to select the most optimal route with the least overall impact to the environment, landowners and communities,” EQT spokeswoman Natalie Cox told the Roanoke Times.
The route would “co-locate” with existing utility rights of way, such as electric transmission lines, when and where it is possible, Cox said.
Appalachian Power spokesman John Shepelwich said he is not aware of any discussions with EQT about co-locating the Mountain Valley Pipeline with American Electric Power transmission lines. Appalachian Power is a subsidiary of AEP.
Shepelwich said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has a process that allows for such co-location.
The pipeline must be approved by the FERC before it could be built. If the federal agency approves, EQT said in a news release that the Mountain Valley Pipeline is expected to be operational during the fourth quarter of 2018.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin expressed support for the pipeline in the release issued by EQT Tuesday evening.