Duke Energy reacts to FERC’s approval of Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Lynn Good, chair, president and CEO of Duke Energy, released a statement recently on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

“FERC’s approval is an important milestone and a critical step forward for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to deliver the benefits of affordable, clean natural gas and affirms the project will be built with minimal impacts to the environment,” Good said.

FERC approved with one of three commissioners dissenting the $5 billion, 600-mile pipeline. The project is designed to transport gas from shale fields in Pennsylvania to Southern Virginia and eastern North Carolina.

“North Carolina’s population is growing, the economy is diversifying and many communities along the route are trying to attract new energy-intensive industries,” Good said. “Natural gas from the pipeline will increase consumer savings, enhance reliability, enable more renewable energy and provide a powerful engine for statewide economic development and job growth. It also supports our plan to produce cleaner energy through newer, highly-efficient natural gas plants and allows more capacity for Piedmont Natural Gas to serve new homes and businesses.”

Duke owns 47 percent of the project. Dominion Energy, the project’s operating partner, owns 48 percent.

“We commend the FERC commissioners and staff for their exhaustive and careful review of this project to ensure the project is built in a way that protects public safety and the environment,” Good said. “All three commissioners acknowledge the need for more natural gas, even the lone dissenting commissioner who states that more than 90 percent of the pipeline’s capacity is subscribed. We will continue to work with the appropriate agencies to secure the remaining permits and look forward to breaking ground later this year.”

The project still needs environmental permits from Virginia and North Carolina.