Hope Gas is proposing to deactivate more than 1,000 miles of pipeline spanning over 20 West Virginia counties. This move could force approximately 600 farm-tap customers to transition to propane or electric service.
While the state’s Public Service Commission has deemed the plan financially justified, local gas producers in Ritchie County worry it could cut off access to vital infrastructure used to transport gas from low-volume wells.
“We may not have anywhere to move our gas if the lines are abandoned, and we have no clear understanding of how these lines could be repaired and maintained,” said Gerald Hall, a gas producer in Ritchie County. “At this point, it’s an abandonment, leaving us with nowhere to move our gas.”
County officials, including Commissioner Randall Riggs, caution that shutting down the pipelines could reduce severance tax revenue and lower property values tied to gas access.
A public meeting for Ritchie County residents is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Ellenboro Town Hall. State regulators will conduct a formal hearing on the proposal in Charleston on May 14.
Hope Gas’ $177 Million Pipeline Project Moves Forward
Earlier this year, the West Virginia Public Service Commission approved Hope Gas’ $177 million Morgantown Connector Project, a 30-mile natural gas pipeline designed to address supply shortages in Morgantown. The commission granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity, calling the project “reasonable and necessary” to meet peak demand in the coming years.
As part of the project, Hope Gas entered a 15-year agreement with Columbia Gas to establish a new interconnection near Wadestown.
The new pipeline will stretch from Wadestown to Morgantown and Osage, incorporating a 16-inch line and an upgrade of 5.6 miles of existing pipe to handle higher pressure. Construction was initially planned to begin by November 1, 2023, with the pipeline expected to be operational in time for the 2025 winter season.
The route was carefully designed to follow existing utility corridors, considering factors such as terrain, residential areas, and infrastructure connections.
