Dominion Picks W.Va. Site for Natural Gas Plant
The Associated Press
12 January 2011
RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia energy company Dominion said Wednesday it has
selected a 56-acre site in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle for the
construction of a plant to process natural gas from hundreds of
producers tapping the rich Marcellus shale deposit.
Dominion will likely invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the
property in Natrium, W.Va., which is owned by PPG Industries, Dominion
spokesman Dan Donovan said.
Dominion did not disclose terms of its option on the land with PPG.
The property will be used to process natural gas and separate natural
gas liquids. It will be operated by the Richmond company's natural gas
pipeline and storage subsidiary, Dominion Transmission.
Engineering design and project planning are underway for the plant,
which ultimately will employ 40 to 50 people, Donovan said.
The plant will process natural gas from Marcellus Shale, a vast
underground formation that has created a gold rush among energy
companies seeking to tap the rich vein of natural gas contained in the
rock.
The process used to extract the gas, called hydraulic fracturing, also
has stirred controversy because of the huge amounts of wastewater it
produces.
The Natrium site is within 10 miles of Dominion's TL-404 pipeline, an
existing transmission line in Ohio and West Virginia that Dominion
plans to convert to a wet gas service line. The site also is close to
rail and barging services.
In a statement issued by Dominion, acting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray
Tomblin welcomed the announcement and said the Marcellus Shale "holds
great potential for our economy while meeting the growing energy needs
of our state and our nation."
PPG's Natrium plant produces chlorine, calcium and other chemicals used
to purify drinking water and in the production of pharmaceuticals. It
employs 530 people.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of
energy.