Dominion Energy proposes Sweden Valley Project for natural gas transmission

http://www.timesreporter.com/news/20180118/dominion-energy-proposes-sweden-valley-project-for-natural-gas-transmission


Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc., has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization to build, install, own, operate and maintain natural gas transmission facilities in Tuscarawas and Licking counties, as well as three counties in Pennsylvania.

Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc., is seeking federal approval for a natural gas transmission project, the Sweden Valley Project, that would include installation of 1.7 miles of 20-inch pipeline in southern Tuscarawas County. The pipeline would run parallel to, and in the same right-of-way as, the existing Blue Racer Midstream pipeline.

The Sweden Valley Project would move natural gas from northern Pennsylvania for delivery in Ohio.

The company’s application for the Sweden Valley Project asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization to build, install, own, operate and maintain natural gas transmission facilities in Tuscarawas and Licking counties, as well as three counties in Pennsylvania.

“There continues to be a growing need for cleaner-burning natural gas to heat homes, run businesses and power generation for electricity,” said Frank Mack, communications projects manager, Dominion Energy Transmission.

In Tuscarawas County, upon project approval, Dominion would install 1.7 miles of 20-inch pipeline south of Dominion Energy Transmission’s existing Gilmore Metering and Regulation Station. The Gilmore Metering and Regulation Station is about half a mile northeast of Gilmore Compressor Station, which is at 656 Gravel Lick Road in Port Washington.

The pipeline would run to the new Port Washington Metering and Regulation Station, which would be built about half a mile southwest of Pleasant Valley Road and Gilmore Road SE. The gas would be would be delivered to Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.

Dominion Energy would need an additional 25 feet of permanent right-of-way, and in most cases, an additional 25 feet of temporary right-of-way for construction of the pipeline.

Mack said the company has started negotiations for right-of-way lease agreements with eight property owners. All of them already lease land to Dominion for the Blue Racer pipeline.

Based on timing of project approval, Dominion Energy Transmission anticipates construction will take place between January and November 2019, Mack said. The line is expected to be in service in late 2019.

The total cost of the project is about $48 million, according to Dominion’s website. The project would supply enough natural gas for a single winter day to about 110,000 households. It would include modifications at an existing compressor station, new metering and regulation facilities, as well as a 1.7-mile interconnect and 3.2 miles of parallel pipe to Dominion Energy’s existing natural gas transmission system.

“We anticipate about 225 total construction jobs would be needed for this project, including about 125 in Ohio,” Mack said. “Construction work will spur economic activity for several months supporting local establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and gas stations.

“In addition, Dominion Energy Transmission has a commitment to community involvement and has a long-standing tradition of supporting nonprofit causes in area where it does business.”

The details of the project are in the application that was filed with FERC. The application is open to public inspection.

The project name and docket number are important to know for anyone wanting to contact Dominion Energy or FERC with questions concerning this project. The name of this project is the Sweden Valley Project and the docket number is CP18-45-000. Using the docket number, the public can view most of the application information online at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll free at 866-208-3676.

A separate notice concerning the project is being mailed to each affected landowner and to each government agency involved in the project. A copy of the application can be viewed locally at the Gnadenhutten Library, 160 N. Walnut St.

Additional information, including a copy of the application and a publication called “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need to Know?” is available through the FERC’s website www.ferc.gov. FERC’s Office of External Affairs may be called toll-free at 866-208-3372. DETI may be called toll-free at 866-319-3382.

Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc., is an interstate gas transmission business unit and wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion Energy Resources, Inc. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., DETI is engaged primarily in the business of storing and transporting natural gas in interstate commerce for customers principally in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Maryland and other states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the country.

Information about the project is on the company’s website at https://www.dominionenergy.com/about-us/natural-gas-projects/sweden-valley.

Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.
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