Atlantic Coast Pipeline Set Back Indefinitely

Legal environmental challenges have delayed the construction of Dominion Energy’s $7.5 billion, 1000-km natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The pipeline would run from West Virginia into southern Virginia, moving 1.5 billion cubic feet per day. And there are new plans — assuming the court rules to proceed — to expand it south into North Carolina.

The perceived impact of pipelines on the environment is stymying construction throughout the country: the 483-km Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia is also stalled, behind schedule and over budget; Keystone XL has been halted by a Montana federal court judge, two major gas intrastate pipelines in New York have been sidelined.

“We remain highly confident in the successful and timely resolution of all outstanding permit issues, as well as the ultimate completion of the entire project,” said Dominion Energy chairman, president and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II, in a statement.

Farrell remains optimistic, saying Dominion remains committed to the project and sees multiple paths forward — whether through legislation or the courts.