Randy Mathis
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Randy Mathis signed wolf mt simon hub pipeline petition via Mykhailo Zabrodin 2023-01-12 05:44:15 -0600
Sign Our Petition to Decision Makers
Wolf Carbon Solutions is partnering with Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) on the proposed Mt. Simon Hub project, a nearly 300-mile pipeline across eastern Iowa and into Illinois. This is one of the first large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems in the U.S., designed specifically to capture carbon dioxide from plants in Clinton and Cedar Rapids, liquefy it under pressure and transport it via the pipeline to a sequestration station in Decatur, Illinois.
Sign our petition below that we will submit to decision makers in comment periods as this project moves through the permitting process, which has begun with a review from the Iowa Utilities Board.
Dear [Official],
I proudly support Wolf Carbon Solutions and ADM's proposed Mt. Simon Hub project, a critical investment in the Midwest region's carbon capture and sequestration pipeline network that will support good industry jobs and generate significant economic activity.
The pipeline would have capacity to transport 12 million tons of CO2 per year from its plants in Iowa to it sequestration site in Decatur, Illinois. Like other CCS projects, Mt. Simon Hub is a common-sense solution to the challenge of addressing carbon dioxide emissions.
I am also confident that this pipeline will be constructed and operated with the highest level of integrity and commitment to safety that Wolf Carbon Solutions and ADM have both demonstrated in their previous infrastructure projects, and they are carrying this same commitment to the Mt. Simon Hub project. In Iowa, for example, the proposed pipeline is safely contained within a two-mile wide corridor, designed to avoid population centers and protect surrounding environments. Overall, project developers are ensuring transparency and community engagement, placing an importance on seeking voluntary easements from landowners in lieu of using eminent domain.
Just a few of the benefits from the Mt. Simon Hub project are outlined below:
- Generate more than $1 billion in economic activity, including a $208 million investment in Linn County alone;
- Create hundreds good jobs for local craftsmen with tens of millions of dollars in overall wages during construction;
- Open significant spare capacity to serve customers across the Midwest and Ohio River Valley looking to decarbonize, ultimately attracting new industrial facilities to the region.
ADM's existing carbon capture and sequestration capabilities in Decatur alone have allowed it to safely store more than 3.5 million metric tons of CO2, and this partnership between ADM and Wolf Carbon Solutions will make it possible to further decarbonize our energy system - efficiently and safely. For these reasons discussed above, I urge you to issue necessary permits for the Mt. Simon Hub project without delay.
Signed,
[Names below]
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Sign Our Letter to Speaker McCarthy
"We pledge to cut the regulatory burden, lower energy costs for families, and create good-paying jobs for workers by unleashing reliable, abundant American-made energy."
In January 2023, Speaker of the House-elect Kevin McCarthy used part of his acceptance speech to voice his commitment to reducing regulatory burdens on domestic energy development that represents significant economic investment, access to reliable energy and good jobs for skilled craftsmen, including Local 798 members.
Thank you for signing our below letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the American Pipeline Action Network expressing support of a reform agenda that prioritizes American energy. Thanks to your efforts, we submitted our letter to Speaker McCarthy on February 14 with 2,048 signatures. We will continue to collect signatures on this letter in anticipation of a follow up submission this year.
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC, 20515I stand with Pipeliners Local 798 in congratulating you on your election to the position of Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives and in encouraging your leadership on the pro-American energy policy agenda outlined in your acceptance remarks on January 7.
Regulatory burdens placed on the energy industry - and pushed forward by several of your colleagues - in recent years have proven to be principal barriers to the approval of critical infrastructure projects that represent significant economic investment, access to reliable energy and good jobs for skilled craftsmen. Many of these jobs would belong to members of Pipeliners Local 798, a trades union based in Oklahoma that represents thousands of America's most skilled and seasoned workers who live and work across the country.We agree with your view that our nation's leaders can help turn this tide in the right direction by working swiftly and collaboratively to support policies that leverage our nation's abundant energy supply and American ingenuity to advance our energy independence, lower our energy costs and create good-paying jobs for our workers.
Overall, I am proud to support policy that prioritizes a strong domestic energy industry due to the following key benefits:
- Generates significant economic activity, supporting a robust and growing economy;
- Encourages investment in and utilization of advanced technology to improve safety and efficiency of infrastructure networks;
- Improves grid reliability and makes energy more affordable for everyday Americans;
- Grows opportunities for skilled craftsmen who depend on jobs on infrastructure projects to provide for their families, many of these workers belonging to Pipeliners Local 798;
- Coupling Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, in particular, with natural gas systems will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the strength and affordability of the existing grid. The development of a major new nationwide network of CO2 pipelines and CO2 sequestration wells is necessary to help meet growing demand for cleaner energy.
Investing in energy infrastructure projects, from natural gas to CCS system, will add countless well-paying American jobs in construction, manufacturing and other services, helping to secure and grow the prosperity of families and communities across the nation.
It is also important to point out that ambiguous and excessive regulatory provisions and endless litigation that continue to rattle our industry give opponents the tools to slow or stop projects during the permitting process, and sometimes stop development projects already under construction. It is therefore essential that you and your colleagues in Washington go above partisan politics to focus on strengthening the American energy industry.
Signed,
[Names below]
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Sign Our Petition Supporting Ridgeline
Enbridge is working with the Tennessee Valley Authority to design, construct and operate the Ridgeline Expansion Project, an expansion of Enbridge’s existing East Tennessee Natural Gas (ETNG) system. Ultimately, this would provide affordable and domestically sourced natural gas for the utility’s customers as the system continues to transition to cleaner energy.
Pending the receipt of all necessary permits, construction would begin in 2025 with a target in-service date of fall 2026. Sign our below petition that we will submit to respective decision makers as this project moves through the permitting process.
Dear [Secretary]:
I am proud to support Enbridge and the Tennessee Valley Authority as they develop the Ridgeline Expansion Project, a critical investment into the energy and economic future of Tennessee and the surrounding region.
Project construction will support good jobs for local craftsmen, many going to Pipeliners Local 798 members. Once complete, this expansion will provide Tennesseans with a lower-carbon, cleaner-burning energy source.
I support the Ridgeline Expansion Project for the following key reasons:
- The project is designed to meet the rising demand for natural gas, providing affordable and cleaner energy for the utility’s customers;
- The majority of the proposed route would be located within the existing system's right-of-way, which minimizes impacts to landowners and the environment;
- I understand the quality of work that Pipeliners Local 798 members and other regional craftsmen will put into this project to ensure its efficiency, safety and reliability. Local 798 workers have delivered on energy infrastructure projects like this for decades.
Simply put, projects like the Ridgeline Expansion Project are necessary to meet the rising demand for natural gas. This clean-burning energy currently fuels one-third of electric power generation and heats approximately half of all U.S. homes. This project will help more families and businesses in Tennessee realize the full advantages of this abundantly available resource.
I encourage FERC to issue necessary permits without delay, allowing the Ridgeline Expansion Project to meet its proposed in-service date in 2026.
Signed,
[Names below]
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Support Dakota Access Pipeline During Critical Review
In February 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would not hear an appeal to overturn a court-ordered environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline. While this is a legal blow to the project, the pipeline will continue to operate while the review is conducted. This followed a ruling on May 21, 2021 by Federal Judge James Boasberg that DAPL could continue operating while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducts review for its Environmental Impact Statement.
The pipeline still needs to undergo the latest of a rigorous series of environmental reviews. Sign our petition below urging the swift approval of remaining permits for DAPL!
RE: Dakota Access Pipeline Project; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Impact Statement
Dear Secretary:
I commend Judge Boesberg’s decision to keep the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) operating while the U.S. Army Corps conducts further environmental review, and I urge the swift approval of any additional permits for this critical project.
DAPL is one of the most technologically advanced and safest pipelines ever constructed, surpassing all federal safety requirements. Throughout planning and development, the project adhered to all federal, state and local laws and regulations and was approved by regulatory agencies in all four states where the pipeline operates, in addition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who completed more than a year of additional study in August of 2018. It's important to note after that thorough review, the Army Corps found the work substantiated its earlier determination that the pipeline poses “no significant environmental threats.” In total, agencies approved more than 1,000 certificates, permits and approvals for the project.
The fact that Judge Boesberg and the Army Corps ruled this year against shutting down the pipeline reiterates the trust the project has earned with its commitment to safety, which is also highlighted by the nearly four years of operation without one major incident.
I support the Dakota Access Pipeline for the following key reasons:
- The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, use DAPL to transport more than 60% of the oil they produce. A pipeline shutdown / Bakken production failure would cause significant loss among tribal members;
- The project has adhered to all federal, state and local laws and regulations, earning more than 1,000 certificates, permits and approvals – approximately one permit or approval for every mile of pipeline – from agencies in all states where it operates;
- DAPL currently moves over a million barrels of crude oil per day. These shipments would need to be transported by rail or truck – both of which are more costly and environmentally damaging;
- A DAPL shut down would cost producers up to $5.4 billion the first year of the shutdown, result in up to $1.4 billion in lost tax revenue for local and state governments and eliminate a potential 24,000 jobs, many belonging to Local 798 members.
Project leaders have demonstrated a commitment to transparency in an effort to develop the most responsible pipeline, conducting more than 550 meetings with community leaders, tribes, businesses, agricultural and civic organizations and local elected officials. In North Dakota alone, project leaders made 140 route adjustments during the planning process, including seventeen adjustments that specifically addressed concerns from involved parties.
The Dakota Access Pipeline has undergone a thorough and rigorous regulatory process while maintaining transparency with the public and adhering to all environmental and safety protocols. This is why we commend Judge Boesbberg for standing by the Army Corps’ decision to keep the pipeline operating while they conduct further review and why we support the approval of any additional permits.
Signed,
Dakota Access Pipeline Project Supporter
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Sign Our Petition to FERC
The GTN XPress Project is a critical investment in the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline infrastructure network in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The project, which specifically includes modifications and upgrades to compressor stations along the pipeline, will help meet growing regional needs for natural gas while supporting good jobs for local craftsmen.
We submitted the below petition to our federal regulator on August 22, 2022 before its comment period ended for the project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement. We will continue to collect signatures in anticipation of additional comment periods in the coming months. Add your name now!
Dear Secretary:
I stand with Pipeliners Local 798 in support of TC Energy’s Gas Transmission Northwest Pipeline (GTN) XPress Project. This is a $335 million investment in the natural gas infrastructure and delivery network in Oregon, Washington and Idaho that will help meet increased market demand across the region.
As the company’s largest pipeline investment, GTN currently provides a critical service delivering reliable, cost-effective natural gas from Western Canada and the Rocky Mountains to local utilities and facilities across the Pacific Northwest and California. The GTN XPress Project will ensure this system continues to safely deliver this energy source to families and businesses across the region.
I support the GTN XPress Project for the following key reasons:
- Projects like this are necessary to meet the region’s growing demand for clean-burning natural gas, which has made up a larger portion of the electricity mix in Oregon, in particular, in recent years as the state phases out coal;
- Investment in the GTN pipeline system will ensure reliable energy delivery for nearly half a million average American homes and businesses;
- A $335 million investment, GTN is TC Energy’s largest-ever organic growth opportunity, supporting good jobs for local craftsmen and generating substantial economic activity.
Residents, business owners and community members across the Pacific Northwest are counting on investments like the GTN XPress Project to help the natural gas delivery network continue to meet their daily energy needs. This is why I urge the swift approval of necessary permits for this project.
Signed,
[Names below]
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Randy Mathis signed Delta Lateral Project FERC Comment via Preston Richard 2021-12-09 15:32:41 -0600
Sign Our Comment to FERC
The Delta Lateral Project will expand natural gas capacity of Kern River Gas Transmission's existing transmission system in Utah while supporting good jobs for local craftsmen.
In December 2021, Local 798 submitted the below petition with 2,080 signatures to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the project’s draft Environmental Impact Statement. In February 2022, FERC released the final DEIS. In anticipation of more public comment periods ahead, please sign this petition that we will submit to other regulators and decision makers in support of Delta Lateral.
Dear Secretary Bose:
I stand with Pipeliners Local 798 in support of Kern River Gas Transmission Company's Delta Lateral Project. This important project will enable Kern River to meet rising natural gas demands in the area and will support good jobs for local craftsmen, including Local 798 members.
In its draft EIS, FERC found the project’s environmental impacts would be reduced to “less-than-significant levels”due to the minimization and mitigation measures proposed by Kern River and recommended by the Commission. Project leaders remain committed to these mitigation efforts and continue to collaborate with stakeholders and environmental experts to develop the most responsible and efficient development plan. I see no reason to alter this review in the final EIS.
Overall, I support the Delta Lateral Project for the following reasons:
- Project leaders have consistently collaborated with stakeholders and environmental experts to ensure it meets or exceeds federal safety standards while developing the most efficient and responsible pipeline route;
- Delta Lateral is a critical part of the region’s energy infrastructure network and its carbon reduction strategy, as it is designed to provide firm transportation service for the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) in Utah, which is working towards installing gas-fired generating units capable of using hydrogen, and developing hydrogen production and long-term storage capabilities;
- Local 798 recognizes Kern River’s history of designing, constructing and operating safe and reliable pipeline systems. The company has demonstrated this same commitment with Delta Lateral.
Due to the reasons discussed above, I support the Delta Lateral Project and urge the swift approval of necessary permits.
Signed,
[Names below]
**Local 798 will submit this petition to state and federal regulators and other decision makers to support the Delta Lateral Project.**
Randy Mathis 2517sc