Dominion Energy Responds to TheBAYNET.com Article

Editor’s Note: After reading TheBAYNET.com’s story about the construction of the pipeline expansion at the Cove Point LNG facility, Dominion Energy pointed out some inaccuracies in the story. TBN strives to report honest, fair and balanced news to Southern Maryland and felt that presenting Domion Energy’s position was only fair. What follows is a rebuttal to the TBN story, orgininally spotlighted on Oct. 10. Prior to publishing the story, TBN made three attempts to contact Dominion Energy representatives. However, no contact was made and information contained in the story was gleaned from press releases and various public record statements. The originial story remains as published below the Dominion Energy remarks.

From Mr. Karl R. Neddenien, Dominion Media Relations:

I’ve just finished reading your article on the Cove Point expansion (“Dominion Expansion of Cove Point LNG Pipeline Resumes” COVE POINT – 10/10/2008) and would like to bring your attention to several factual inaccuracies.

The Cove point expansion was not suspended in 2005 but has continued uninterrupted and remains on schedule to be completed by the end of this year.

The gas explosion in Forrest Heights was attributed to leaking seals in the WGL gas distribution system, not a Dominion pipeline, I believe.

The issue did not spend more than two years in the court of appeals.

Part of the recent FERC order calls for gas to be excluded (not “not excluded”) from the Washington Gas system. This pertains to additional gas that will be available from Cove Point when the expansion is completed.

No “super-cooled natural gas” flows through the natural gas pipeline. All the liquefied natural gas remains on the Cove Point facility. Only “regular” natural gas leaves the site.

In addition to Mr. Neddenien’s remarks, Mr. Daniel E. Donovan, also of Dominion Media Relations added that Dominion pays farmers for lost revenues during the time of construction, refuting a quote from Calvert farmer, Brian Ferguson, taken from an interview with WTOP news.

In 2005, Richmond-based Dominion Power began the process of expanding transmission and storage capacity for the Cover Point liquefied natural gas pipeline and storage facility. The project was stalled in that same year, when Washington Gas filed complaints with federal regulators after a gas explosion in Forrest Heights was attributed to Dominion pipeline leaking seals.

The explosion destroyed a house but caused no injuries. After more than two years in the U.S. Court of Appeals and countless inspections and hearings, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reauthorized the $740 million expansion effort.