Pipeline construction to begin Rockys Express Pipeline to cross Fayette in route through state
Ryan Carter Staff Writer
Although there have been some obstacles along the way, the Fayette County portion of the Rockies Express natural gas pipeline is ready for construction.
The project is a 1,679-mile natural gas pipeline system that will run from Rio Blanco County, Colo. to Monroe County, Ohio. Although officials didn't provide an exact timeline, they said they hoped to have the project completed by November of this year.
"It's a significant investment in the U.S. energy infrastructure and will help meet the nation's growing need for energy," said Allen Fore, public affairs director for Rockies Express. "I think we've proven that you can run a very successful project that is also friendly to the environment. There has definitely been some opposition along the way but we have been able to work everything out."
Some of that opposition was from property owners who Rockies Express requested land from in order to complete their pipeline. One of those property owners is Jeff Sollars, who has property near State Route 41 that Rockies Express will use as part of their underground pipeline.
"Originally I had a difference of opinion with them and it took a little while to get to the point where we agreed," said Sollars. "But we did come to an agreement. The biggest dispute was the amount we would receive for the damages to our property. This small amount of land is part of where we farm and grow crops. When they dig up this land, it's going to cause damages that will probably have lasting effects. I just didn't want to get in a hurry. They were in a hurry but I wanted to make sure that we were paid for the damages."
Sollars is one of four Fayette County land owners who had a dispute with Rockies Express, according to Ohio Southern District federal court documents.
These types of disputes were common throughout every state that the pipeline travels through. But after agreeing to compensate these property owners, Rockies is now to the point where they can begin construction in Ohio.
The eastern portion of this system will traverse approximately 638 miles from Audrain County, Mo. to Monroe County. The pipeline is designed to provide energy to markets in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois with access to reliable, clean-burning domestic natural gas supplies from the Rocky Mountain supply basins, according to Fore.
"It's a private investment of more than $6.6 billion and the natural gas we're bringing will be used in these areas," Fore said. "It will provide natural gas for more than four million homes and it will bring thousands of very high-paying, skilled jobs.
Rockies estimates that Ohio will receive approximately $30 to $40 million in revenue from sales and taxes paid during construction. "In addition, each county along the east pipeline route will receive millions of dollars in property tax revenue annually that are attributable to the physical assets of the project," said Fore.
Fayette County is estimated to receive approximately $2.9 million in property tax revenue, although that number has not been confirmed.
"It's too soon to tell until the actual construction begins," said Fayette County Auditor Mike Smith. "They will submit an evaluation to us. There will be an official estimate but we haven't had any reason to review their estimate yet."
There are other temporary benefits, according to Fayette County Economic Development Director Rob Hedrick.
"The pipeline is supposed to provide lower cost gas to our region," he said. "Also, a lot of the workers on the project will stay here at our hotels or trailer parks and they will eat at our restaurants. There probably won't be a lot of local job creation because they have already contracted workers and it's a specialized field. It all helps, but once the pipeline is built, it all goes away."
The pipeline will run from west to east from Clinton County into Fayette and then into Pickaway County. In Fayette, the pipeline will run parallel to the four existing high pressure gas lines north of Washington C.H., according to Fayette County Engineer Steve Luebbe.
There will be construction headquarters located in Wilmington, Circleville, South Bloomfield, Zanesville and Cambridge.
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