MORGANTOWN – In January, the state Public Service Commission approved Hope Gas’ plan to build a new pipeline to serve the Morgantown area: running a total 30 miles from Wadestown in western Monongalia County eastward to the edge of Morgantown and then northwest to site near Osage.
Construction on the Morgantown Connector Project has begun, Hope told The Dominion Post on Friday.
Now, Hope has initiated a series of condemnation proceedings against landowners along the planned route, asking Monongalia County Circuit Court to grant entry and easements in order to undertake construction.
From Aug. 31 to the present, Hope has filed 31 suits, with three of those settled and closed.
In all but a few cases, Hope stated in its filings that it was unable to reach agreement with the landowner regarding the easements.
The details vary from case to case, with some rights of way being temporary and some being permanent.
Landowners who spoke to The Dominion Post – with agreement their names would be withheld since the litigation is ongoing – noted two problems with what Hope is seeking. One is loss of use of property.
As one suit says, the landowner retains full right to own, use, enjoy and occupy the land that does not interfere with or is inconsistent with the rights of way and easements sought. But the landowner “shall not construct or permit to be constructed any house, structure or obstruction on, over or through said right of way that will interfere with the construction, maintenance or operation of the natural gas pipeline or appurtenances constructed therein.”
The other problem they cite is inadequate compensation offers from Hope. One mentioned their offer and commented, “for all of that disruption, … the loss of being able to use the land, are you kidding me? … It makes me very angry.”
Hope said Friday it cannot comment on active litigation.
Hope said, “Recognizing the natural desire of affected landowners and the community for accurate and timely information, Hope Gas assigned a team of experienced, professional land agents to the project early on, with each landowner being assigned a designated agent in order to ensure personal engagement and continuity in the land acquisition process.
“Our land agents dedicated to this project have had positive and informative discussions with landowners,” Hope said. “The approach taken by Hope Gas in acquiring the real estate interests necessary for this important project has been one of open, personal engagement with landowners and fair and reasonable offers of compensation, reflecting the fair market value of the interests acquired.
“While condemnation proceedings are not uncommon in similar projects,” Hope said, “Hope’s goal is to educate and inform landowners about the project and to reach voluntary agreements. Our team will continue our conversations with landowners throughout the entirety of the project.”
As previously reported, Hope wants to build the pipeline because it is experiencing a decline in supply capacity it has in excess of its peak-day requirements. Also, Morgantown Energy Associates and other Morgantown-area customers want to increase their supply levels. In order to meet the demand, Hope proposed to enter into a 15-year contract with Columbia Gas for gas to be supplied to a new Hope-Columbia interconnection near Wadestown.
Hope said it needed to begin construction by Nov. 1, 2024, in order to have the line in service by Nov. 1 this year, when winter demand begins. It said the start date allows for tree clearance outside of the restrictions to accommodate bat and bird habitats.
The pipeline is estimated to cost $177,437,169. Hope estimates that the project will generate about 600 jobs, which will make up about half the project cost. Other major costs are the 30 miles of pipeline and five measurement and regulation stations.
The new line would begin at Hope’s interconnect with a Columbia Gas line near Wadestown. Using new and existing Hope right of way, it would run 25 miles to the Western edge of Morgantown to connect with other proposed Hope facilities (called Black Night) west of I-79 and Harmony Grove. Hope says about 5.5 miles of that right of way is in northern Marion County.
From Black Night, the line would use existing and new third-party rights of way to go five miles northwest of Granville to a station called Mineral northwest of Osage.
Hope notes that about 14.5 miles of the project is parallel to existing Hope right of way or to other lines, to allow for grouped utilities and making the most of an existing corridor. “This route was selected considering proximity to homes and buildings, topography suited for the size of the pipeline, sensitive resources and the associated crossings, and tie-in locations at Wadestown, Black Knight, and Mineral.”
The project would include 30 miles of 16-inch diameter steel gas line and “uprating” of 5.6 miles of existing 12-inch line to accommodate the increased pressure and new gas supply.
Hope is not proposing any rate hikes at this time for the pipeline but says it intends to recover costs in future base rate and purchased gas adjustment cases.
