Myths & facts about Atlantic Coast Pipeline

From Dominion Resources….

Dominion’s plan to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to provide affordable, environmentally friendly natural gas to our region has received broad and strong support. Still, we have a responsibility to make sure everyone knows the facts about this project.

Myth: The pipeline will move natural gas so it can be exported overseas.
Fact: The pipeline will serve customers in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina—period. Natural gas moved by the pipeline will not be exported. In fact, no facilities exist along the route to make exporting possible.

Myth: The pipeline will be above ground.
Fact: The pipeline will be entirely underground except at its three compressor stations and other maintenance and safety points, where small portions of the pipeline will be above ground.

Myth: Natural gas speeds up climate change.
Fact: Natural gas burns cleaner and emits the lowest amount of carbon of any fossil fuel—half the carbon of coal. Switching from coal to natural gas for electricity generation lowers carbon emissions and significantly improves air quality. That’s why the use of natural gas is a key part of the President’s Climate Action Plan.

Myth: We’ll run out of natural gas, and the pipeline will be abandoned.
Fact: The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the U.S. has more than 100 years of proven natural gas reserves, with new discoveries being made regularly.

Myth: Natural gas pipelines are dangerous.
Fact: Natural gas pipelines have a long-standing, impressive safety record. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation says that pipelines are one of the safest ways to transport natural gas. They are much safer than shipping fuel by rail or truck.

Myth: Natural gas pipelines aren’t regulated.
Fact: They’re actually heavily regulated: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with input from numerous federal and state environmental agencies, will conduct an in-depth review of the pipeline plan to determine if it’s in the public interest. The U.S. Department of Transportation closely monitors pipeline safety.

Myth: Dominion isn’t a local company.
Fact: Dominion has been a major corporate citizen throughout West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina for many decades. In fact, it has been headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, for more than 100 years.

Myth: Pipelines can’t be built over mountains or over the regions of hardened limestone (“karst”) terrain, which is so abundant in our area.
Fact: Thousands of miles of pipelines have been built and now operate successfully over both types of terrain. Forty percent of the eastern United States has karst topography.

Myth: We wouldn’t need natural gas pipelines or power stations if we just invested in more renewable forms of energy, like wind or solar power.
Fact: Renewables are important. That’s why Dominion and others are constantly adding new sources. But solar and wind cannot be counted on when power is needed around the clock. Natural gas can.

Myth: My community won’t see the economic benefits of the new pipeline.
Fact: Pipeline construction could result in as much as $2.7 billion in new economic impact throughout the region, support 17,240 jobs, help stabilize both home heating and electricity prices, promote more economic development, improve air quality, and generate significant state and local tax revenue. Every county along the pipeline’s path will benefit.

Myth: The pipeline will alter the natural beauty of our region, and hurt tourism.
Fact: The pipeline will be virtually invisible. There are 2.5 times more miles of underground natural gas pipelines than interstate highways in Virginia. Yet few people ever notice.

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See also Special Issue: LynnRMitchell.com writers, guests discuss Atlantic Coast Pipeline:

• Atlantic Coast Pipeline: Better ways to the same end by Supervisor Tracy Pyles
• Dominion, environmentalists, and pipeline hypocrisy by Joel Salatin
• Augusta County: Too valuable and vulnerable for this pipeline? by former Supervisor Nancy Sorrells
• Dominion’s Growth – What, Why, How, and Controlling Features by Calvin Lucy
• The Dominion Pipeline Maze by Kurt Michael
• Schedule for 2015 Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline open houses from Dominion
• Myths & facts about Atlantic Coast Pipeline from Dominion
• Dominion Virginia Power pipeline in Augusta County by Supervisor David Karaffa
• Augusta County residents organize against pipeline by Supervisor David Karaffa

Previous articles on the pipeline:

• What if Dominion Virginia Power ran high speed internet with Atlantic Coast Pipeline? by Lynn R. Mitchell
• Governors McAuliffe, Tomblin, McCrory provide bipartisan support for Atlantic Coast Pipeline by Lynn R. Mitchell
• Business community, public officials support Atlantic Coast Pipeline by Lynn R. Mitchell
• Augusta supervisors deliver resolution asking for more info, Dominion says 75% of landowners in pipeline path agree to surveying  by Lynn R. Mitchell

Cross-posted