Southgate was chopped in half. What do we know so far?
This blog post was written by POWHR’s co-director Denali Nalamalapu on January 8, 2024.
In a report to the federal government on December 30, 2024, Equitrans Midstream announced a revised Southgate Extension project plan of 31 miles as opposed to the original 72 miles.
Was this a victory for communities?
Yes, and no. Communities along the route have exposed MVP’s plans as impossible and deadly for nearly a decade. MVP Southgate’s change of plans proves them right.
Communities advocated tirelessly to stop the extension, and MVP Southgate has now admitted it is unable to build it as planned. The new plan halves the project and eliminates a compressor station, meaning fewer people are harmed. However, it redirects the extension, exposing other communities to harm. The sheer existence of the MVP and the Southgate extension is an insult to the real lives the fracked gas disaster threatens.
This news comes as a mixed bag to communities hoping to toss it in the flaming dumpster fire of planet-killing anachronisms.
How does this plan differ from the last one?
The Southgate extension will now use a wider pipe: originally it was no larger than 24 inches and now it is 30 inches. The mainline project uses a “large diameter” 42-inch pipe. The bigger the pipeline, the less safe it is because it takes more pressure to move gas through the pipe.
The capacity will also be increased in the new project, from 300,000 Dth per day to 550,000 Dth per day.
The new plan means they will not build an additional compressor station. This is good for surrounding communities and the planet – both of which are already endangered by the byproducts and blast potential of existing compressor stations in the area. MVP Southgate likely did this to avoid regulatory hurdles after it was denied the permit for the compressor station in the original plan by the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board in 2021.
MVP Southgate says the revised plan will cost less – however we are talking about a joint-venture that has more than doubled its overall costs to the tune of billions. Due to the shortened mileage and lack of an additional compressor station, the project is down to $370 million from $468 million.
MVP Southgate says the new project will be complete in 2028. The federal government just granted MVP’s request for an extension of time until June 2026. The company has not explained this discrepancy other than signaling that it will request an updated due date in the future.
How does the plan stay the same?
The Southgate extension will still cross into North Carolina – just not as far. The original plan was to run it along the Interstate 40 corridor into Alamance County – through another critical drinking source. Now Politico speculates that it will likely end in Rockingham County where there is an existing pipeline.
The named customers of the project have remained the same: the Public Service Company of North Carolina (PSNC) and an unnamed utility company. PSNC was previously owned by Dominion and months ago was acquired by Enbridge – the villainous company behind the Line 3 oil pipeline that is known for its Indigenous rights and environmental violations. However, MVP will conduct an auction for shipping capacity where it will seek new customers.
The new plan still endangers critical water bodies – just fewer of them. The original plan would have crossed at least 207 streams, 17,700 linear feet of streams, 6,500 square feet of open water, and 14 acres of wetlands, and 14 acres of buffers on the side of the water bodies (known as riparian buffers). The new plan would still require MVP Southgate to apply for a federal 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers and a state 401 permit. In 2020, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality denied MVP Southgate a 401 water quality permit.
What does this mean for the movement to #StopMVP?
The new plan is not final. Equitrans will finalize the plan after conducting an “open season”, where it will look for buyers for the shipping capacity. Unfortunately, for now, we have to wait for more news.
This plan reflects an altogether new project with bigger pipe, increased capacity, a different route, and different customers. Regulatory agencies should ask MVP Southgate to restart the process of proposing this new project and grant them no special favors.
Community members will continue to oppose the Southgate extension in its entirety – along with the mainline. Join 7 Directions of Service for a water walk to protect communities impacted by the Southgate extension on Saturday, February 17!