The News Virginian

By Bob Stuart

Going to bat for a project that has faced fierce opposition from environmentalists, a coalition of Virginia businesses, legislators and labor organizations touted the Atlantic Coast Pipeline's economic benefits on Thursday, saying the natural gas conduit is crucial to the commonwealth's fiscal future. The group released a letter to Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Thursday, thanking him for his continued support of the project.

The underground natural gas pipeline would stretch from West Virginia to Virginia and end in North Carolina. Approximately 55 miles of the pipeline path would come through Augusta County. The project is under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC is expected to offer a draft environmental impact statement on the pipeline before the end of the year.

During a Thursday morning teleconference, those writing the governor explained why the 600-mile natural gas pipeline is important to Virginia's future economic development, which has been anything but robust in recent years. One legislator noted that the gross domestic product in Virginia has grown at a flat rate for several years.

"We've got to get the economy growing,'' said Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Midlothian, who represents part of the Richmond area. "We can't do it without reliable, affordable and secure energy sources."

Sturtevant said without reliable energy, new industry will not locate in the commonwealth. He noted that Virginia has recorded five straight years with less than a 1.5 percent GDP growth.

Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barry DuVal said the pipeline project would create thousands of jobs during construction, and 1,300 ongoing jobs. He also mentioned the reported $10 million in local tax revenue the 13 Virginia cities and counties along the proposed route would add to their coffers.

Danny Watson of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers said the pipeline would "create thousands of good-paying jobs."

McAuliffe has supported the project since it was announced in 2014. The letter sent to the governor on Thursday states that "As members of the EnergySure coalition, a broad-based coalition of more than 200 businesses, labor groups, and economic development organizations, we recognize the vital importance of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to the environmental health and economic vitality of our region."

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, D-Jarratt, said the pipeline's  path would come through her legislative district that includes Brunswick and parts of Greensville and Southampton counties. She pointed to Brunswick County, which Tyler said would receive $4.6 million in property tax revenue from the pipeline.

"These areas are economically depressed. This means a lot of funding for teachers, and more money for sheriffs and new roads,'' Tyler said.

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