The Virginian-Pilot
by Mike Petters

AS THE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYER in Virginia, Huntington Ingalls Industries is keenly aware of developments in energy policy and their effect on the economy and the environment.

We’ve taken note of the fact that as the federal government enacts stricter air- and water-quality standards, electric utilities across the country are shifting away from coal and toward cleaner-burning electricity sources such as natural gas and renewables. Dominion Energy, for example, recently closed two of its coal-fired power plants, including the Chesapeake Energy Center, about 15 miles from our corporate headquarters. Dominion converted four other plants to cleaner-burning natural gas and renewable biomass.

The reason for the change is simple: Natural gas is much cleaner than coal. It produces half the carbon emissions of coal and even less sulfur, nitrogen and mercury. Before Dominion converted its Bremo Power Station in Fluvanna County from coal to natural gas in 2014, the plant produced about 62 pounds of mercury every three years. Today, it produces zero mercury emissions. Nitrogen oxide emissions have been slashed by 80 percent, and sulfur emissions by 99 percent.

Carbon emissions are falling dramatically at the national level, too. Last year, the U.S. electricity sector produced the lowest amount of carbon emissions in 25 years.

These are historic achievements, but we still have a long way to go. With more coal plants slated for retirement and new natural gas plants coming online to replace them, we need additional supplies of natural gas in Virginia. Our existing pipelines haven’t been upgraded in decades, so we need to build new pipeline infrastructure.

With demand for natural gas expected to more than double in Virginia and North Carolina over the next 20 years, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline will provide the energy we need to continue moving toward a clean-energy economy. As we invest in more solar and wind, the pipeline also will provide the critical backup power our electric utilities need to keep the lights on when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.

Underground natural gas pipelines are already a normal part of our everyday lives. In Virginia, there are more than two times as many miles of interstate pipeline than interstate highway. These pipelines run under our farms and rivers and alongside our homes, businesses and schools. Most of us don’t even realize they’re there.

Pipelines are the safest form of energy transportation in our country. It’s far safer to move natural gas through underground pipelines than by truck or rail. Pipelines are monitored around the clock. They’re tested and checked constantly, and they can be remotely shut off at any time if leaks are found. According to the latest statistics, 99.99 percent of America’s natural gas was transported safely through our nation’s pipeline system. That’s an envious track record for any industry.

The United States is on the verge of one of the most important transformations in our history. Virginia needs to be ready. I have no doubt that it’s what’s best for Virginia’s economy and for the environment we leave for future generations.

Mike Petters
President and CEO
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Newport News

 Read the full article in The Virginian-Pilot