Corey Shows
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Sign our Project Support Petition
In December 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a three-year extension for Mountain Valley Pipeline to build a planned offshoot of its main natural gas pipeline - MVP Southgate - that would run from Pittsylvania County to North Carolina. Before construction on the extension can start, FERC needs to issue a notice to proceed after confirming the project has received all state and federal permits it needs. Two state permits, an air permit from Virginia and a water permit from North Carolina, are still outstanding.
Thousands of jobs are on the line with Southgate! Sign the below petition that we will submit to the appropriate decision makers during upcoming comment periods.
Dear [Official]:
I join Pipeliners Local 798 in urging FERC and other decision makers to approve Mountain Valley’s proposed Southgate Pipeline Project. This is an approximate $468 million investment in the economic and energy future of Virginia and North Carolina that will put local craftsmen to work, many of whom are highly-trained members of Local 798.
The Southgate Pipeline Project is critical to meet the substantial and growing need for natural gas in the region. PSNC Energy, a local distribution company serving central North Carolina, has already signed a long-term contract to receive natural gas from the pipeline in order to help serve its customers, including approximately 100,000 new natural gas customers it has added over the past decade. Delay in project approval would be particularly devastating to these customers.
I support the swift approval of Southgate due to the project’s following benefits:
- inject $68 million directly into Virginia and $113 million into North Carolina’s economy;
- support 570 jobs in Virginia and 1,130 jobs in North Carolina, many belonging to Local 798 members;
- generate $10.4 million in tax revenue across the two states during construction, and, once operational, it will generate an estimated $4.6 million across the project areas;
- help meet the growing need for natural gas in the region by transporting 375M cf/day to markets that need reliable energy; including the approximate 100,000 new natural gas customers served by PSNC Energy.
Safety and environmental integrity are central priorities at Local 798, which is why we do not offer support lightly. FERC staff stated that the project's potential adverse environmental impacts would be reduced to “less-than-significant levels" through implementation of its recommendations. The Pipeline Project team has demonstrated a commitment to this goal by making 191 route adjustments in response to feedback collected during the pre-filing process.
These alteration were made to protect streams, wetlands and cultural resources, as well as to minimize – or avoid – potential impacts to sensitive areas. Key changes included the reduction in the temporary right-of-way width at wetland and waterbody crossings, and a proposal based on recommendations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to cross Cascade Creek, Wolf Island Creek and Deep Creek via conventional bore.
The pipeline will also be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year using sophisticated computerized systems and around-the-clock personnel. This regular monitoring will ensure pipeline integrity.
This project will help make a reliable supply of natural gas available for residents in the region, create thousands of jobs for the local workforce and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue, all while respecting the environment. This is why I ask that you issue necessary approvals for the MVP Southgate Project without delay.
Signed,
[Names below]
*PLEASE NOTE: Local 798 submitted this comment below to FERC in September 2019 during its comment period for the Southgate Project's Environmental Impact Statement. We may submit your signature to state and federal regulatory bodies, as well as elected officials to support the project.
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Driftwood Pipeline
About the project
Driftwood proposes to construct and operate dual 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipelines, referred to as the Line 200 and Line 300 project, originating near Ragley in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana southward to a proposed receiver facility near Carlyss in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Additional facilities include one new compressor station, eleven meter stations, six mainline valves, and other aboveground facilities. The project would provide a maximum seasonal capacity of 5.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to the Lake Charles market.
FERC is accepting public comments on the project's draft Environmental Impact Statement through July 5, 2022.
Click here to view the project website.
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Sign Our Petition to the Army Corps
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced in March 2023 that it extended its environmental review of Enbridge Energy's Line 5 Straits Tunnel Project. The project's Environmental Impact Statement was previously set to be finished by late this year but now will be issued no earlier than Spring 2025.
While Local 798 members are supportive of a comprehensive permitting process that ensures opportunity for review and comment, we are disappointed with the extended timeline on this project's already thorough environmental impact analysis. Join us in sending a message to the Army Corps in support of a swift review so construction can finally move forward.
Dear Secretary:
I stand with Pipeliners Local 798 in expressing disappointment in the U.S. Army Corps's decision to extend its environmental review of Enbridge Energy's Line 5 Straits Tunnel Project. The permitting process for Line 5 already ensured extensive opportunity for review and comment, through which Enbridge repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to maintaining the highest level of safety and environmental responsibility.
Enbridge's proactive dedication to safety includes diligent 24/7 monitoring of the Straits crossing, regular inspections and operating the line at less than 25 percent of its maximum design capabilities to minimize stress on the pipeline steel and enhance safety. In November 2017, the company formally entered into an agreement with the state of Michigan outlining seven actions Enbridge was taking to protect the state’s water bodies within the project footprint. The following year, Enbridge announced another agreement with the state of Michigan that put in place enhanced inspection and operations protocols for the project. In the years that followed, Enbridge has continued to work closely with landowners, tribal leaders and safety experts to ensure the safest and most efficient pipeline operation.
There are several reasons why I believe the Line 5 Straits Tunnel Project deserves swift approval from the Army Corps and other decision makers, including:
- Enbridge has a proactive inspection program to monitor the fitness of Line 5, including evaluating the pipe’s interior inch by inch every five years using in-line inspection tools that provide detail on par with MRIs in the medical industry;
- All products that enter the pipeline are inspected and treated to prevent corrosion, and the system is operated at a low pressure to minimize stress on the pipe – all in an effort to protect the pipeline and the Straits;
- Over the past several years, Enbridge has paid tens of millions of dollars in property taxes in the state for its energy infrastructure projects, which has been invested in schools, roads and bridges and other important public services;
- The Line 5 Straits Tunnel Project will create good jobs for the local workforce, many of whom include Local 798 members.
The permitting process for Line 5 already ensured more than adequate opportunity for review and comment, through which Enbridge has demonstrated a clear plan with the project to help ensure an uninterrupted supply of reliable, affordable energy to Michigan and the region. This is why I ask the Army Corps to efficiently complete this review and approve necessary permits without any further delay.
Signed,
[Names Below]
**Local 798 may submit this petition to state and federal regulators and other decision makers to support Line 5.**
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I am wanting to get into this trade and make a life out of it
Mountain Valley
About the project
MVP received federal approval in June 2023. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered in August for construction on MVP to resume, granting a request to lift lower court orders that had halted the project and (again) delayed its completion.
In April 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission amended Mountain Valley Pipeline's 2017 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, supporting project completion under water bodies with specific construction methods. MVP, which is already 94% complete, still needs authorization from other agencies for work in remaining streams and wetlands.
With a vast supply of natural gas from Marcellus and Utica shale production, MVP is expected to provide up to two million dekatherms per day of firm transmission capacity to markets in the Mid- and South Atlantic regions of the U.S.
You can learn more about MVP on its project website.
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Support Texas Pipeliners
The Permian Global Access Pipeline (PGAP) is expected to submit the 7(c) Natural Gas Certificate Application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this year. The project was proposed in 2017 as part of Tellurian LNG's strategy to form a $7 billion pipeline network, along with the proposed Driftwood Liquified Natural Gas Terminal in Louisiana, supporting 15 thousand jobs in Texas and Louisiana.
Help secure jobs for local pipeliners! Sign the below petition that we will submit to FERC and other decision makers at the appropriate time.
I support the Permian Global Access Pipeline (PGAP), a critical investment in the Texas and Louisiana natural gas infrastructure network that will provide good jobs for Local 798 members and increase regional access to reliable, domestically sourced energy.
Once in service, the project will be an integral part of the proposed Tellurian Pipeline Network, which represents a $7 billion investment in the region's economic and energy future, including the creation of approximately 15 thousand jobs in Texas and Louisiana. Many of these jobs belong to the hard-working members of Local 798, a trades union representing some of the nation’s most skilled and dedicated craftsmen.
I support the Permian Global Access Pipeline for the following key reasons:
- the project team is incorporating all the most current federal standards into the design and operations of the pipeline, and in many instances, these standards will be exceeded to ensure the safest and most reliable system;
- the pipeline will be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure ongoing safety;
- once in service, PGAP will help meet the region's growing energy demands, as it is designed to transmit 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from West Texas to the Lake Charles area by late 2023 or early 2024;
- as part of the Tellurian Pipeline Network, PGAP will contribute to billions of dollars in state and local tax revenue, as well as an estimated 15 thousand jobs for regional construction workers.
Due to the reasons listed above, I urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory agencies to issue necessary permits for this critical project without delay.
Signed,
Permian Global Access Pipeline Supporter
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Sign Our Petition Supporting Hydrogen Pipelines
Upgrading and modifying existing gas pipelines and midstream infrastructure to carry biofuels and low-carbon hydrogen would generate good jobs for our nation’s construction workforce and boost economic activity while supporting low-carbon goals.
Sign our petition below supporting hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and the jobs that these projects will provide to craftsmen across the country, including many Local 798 members.
As a forward-thinking supporter of a strong energy industry, I join Pipeliners Local 798 in support of utilizing existing infrastructure and developing new pipelines for the purpose of transporting renewable hydrogen.
By making lines hydrogen-capable, we can best prepare for a responsible energy future while helping to grow opportunities for industry craftsmen across the nation, many of whom are members of Pipeliners Local 798, a trades union representing the most highly trained, skilled and dedicated men and women in the energy industry.
The U.S. has a robust natural gas transportation and storage network – approximately three million miles of natural gas pipelines run throughout the nation – yet, these critical pipelines could become stranded assets within decades, as government leaders push towards aggressive carbon emission goals. This presents both a tremendous challenge and opportunity to utilize the existing pipeline network to also transport other clean-burning energy sources like renewable hydrogen.
While I believe that natural gas should play a vital role in our energy system for years to come, I recognize the growing urgency to invest in renewable energy sources. Modifying gas pipelines and midstream infrastructure to carry biofuels and low-carbon hydrogen is smart strategy, as these projects generate critical economic activity, support good jobs and ensure the delivery of reliable, clean energy to American homes and businesses.
I support investment in renewable hydrogen pipeline infrastructure for the following key reasons:
- Utilizing existing infrastructure for renewable hydrogen distribution supports good job opportunities for industry craftsmen and generates critical local and state economic activity;
- While renewables like solar and wind are limited by electrical grids, hydrogen can be efficiently transported by pipelines, which are built and maintained by a skilled workforce of pipefitters, welders and other craftsmen who depend on infrastructure projects to provide for their families;
- Hydrogen in distribution pipelines would help decarbonize industrial processes, supporting environmental goals.
Upgrading and modifying existing gas pipelines and midstream infrastructure to carry hydrogen would generate good jobs for our nation’s construction workforce and boost economic activity while supporting low-carbon goals. This is why I urge decision makers to join me in supporting these critical infrastructure projects.
Signed
[Signers below]
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Sign Our Comment
Over the course of two weeks in September, we prepared submissions - with more than 2,300 comments - to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), as they accepted public comments on permits for the Mt. Simon Hub project, a pipeline proposed by Wolf Carbon Solutions and Archer Daniels Midland Company that will stretch from eastern Iowa into Illinois. Specifically, the project is seeking from the Illinois Commerce Commission a "Certificate of Authority to Construct and Operate a Carbon Dioxide Pipeline and when Necessary to take Interests in Property as Provided by the Law of Eminent Domain"; and from the Iowa Utilities Board a Hazardous Liquid Pipeline permit.
Thank you to all who signed our comment for submission! If you signed after September 21, we may include your name in future submissions to state and federal regulators to support this project.
Dear Secretary:
On behalf of United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) and our more than 300,000 members, I want to express our continued support for the Mt. Simon Hub and encourage a thorough review and timely approval of this important project. We believe that Wolf Carbon Solutions’ Mt. Simon Hub will be integral to job creation, environmental improvement and long-term economic growth of our region.
As a proud UA member, I am excited at the prospect of playing a central role in making this project a reality. With the potential to create more than 2,700 construction jobs, generate over $478 million in wages and salaries and to contribute upwards of $75 million in state and local taxes for our state, the Mt. Simon Hub presents an extraordinary economic opportunity both for our union members and Illinois and Iowa overall.
The hardworking men and women of the UA will bring their extensive construction experience to bear to ensure that the Mt. Simon Hub is built to rigorous specifications and in compliance with strict federal and state standards. At the UA, we adhere to our Standard of Excellence in every project we work on. This Standard is made up of three pillars: safety, quality and productivity, each of which are essential to making our laborers the best-trained and highly-skilled in the world. Furthermore, we boast a five-year apprenticeship program that was the first nationally registered program recognized by the Department of Labor in the United States.
With the possibility of major economic and environmental benefits, my fellow union members and I are excited by the opportunity that the Mt. Simon Hub presents, and we urge you to approve Wolf Carbon Solutions’ application. Thank you for your consideration.
Signed,
**By signing this petition, I agree to share my name on Pipeliners Local 798's submission to the Illinois Commerce Commission (RE: Docket No. 23-0475) and to the Iowa Utilities Board (Docket No. HLP-2022-0002)**
Corey Shows 52sc