Just about anyone in West Virginia who uses natural gas to heat their homes or cook their food buys from Mountaineer Gas.  Mountaineer Gas also provides gas to industrial customers.  They are expanding their services in the eastern panhandle, adding 46 miles of low pressure distribution pipelines in Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties.  The pipelines will be between 6 and 12 inches, and run at about half the pressure of a typical transmission line, or several hundred PSI.  The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2017, but still needs approval from the Public Service Commission before work can begin.

The new pipelines are intended to provide gas to industrial and commercial customers.  Lack of gas has been a factor in the decisions of some companies to not locate in the eastern panhandle.  The new Proctor and Gamble plant will need natural gas, and this project is probably part of that deal.  Having natural gas available will make it possible for other companies to locate there in the future.  This is something we weren’t aware of that needed to happen in order to improve West Virginia’s economy.

Any eastern panhandle landowners who will be affected by the Mountaineer Gas pipeline should remember that they can negotiate with the company for better terms, including making the right of way or easement temporary, larger payments, and increased control of the property.  If you sign the first offer they put in front of you, you are doing yourself a disservice, as well as anybody who might inherit or buy the property from you.