Duke Energy and Dominion Energy announced Sunday afternoon that the companies have canceled plans for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
“This was a necessary decision given the legal uncertainties facing the project, and we deeply regret that we were unable to complete this project,” the companies said in a news release. “The ACP was developed to meet the needs of communities across our region and to support the transition to cleaner energy.
“While the need for new infrastructure in our region remains, there is too much legal uncertainty to continue moving forward with this project.”
The project was announced in 2014. The $8 billion, 600-mile natural gas pipeline was designed to run through parts of West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, including Cumberland and Robeson counties.
“We regret that we will be unable to complete the Atlantic Coast Pipeline,” Duke Energy CEO Lynn J. Good and Dominion Energy CEO Thomas F Farrell II said in a combined statement. “For almost six years we have worked diligently and invested billions of dollars to complete the project and deliver the much-needed infrastructure to our customers and communities. Throughout we have engaged extensively with and incorporated feedback from local communities, labor and industrial leaders, government and permitting agencies, environmental interests and social justice organizations. We express sincere appreciation for the tireless efforts and important contributions made by all who were involved in this essential project. This announcement reflects the increasing legal uncertainty that overhangs large-scale energy and industrial infrastructure development in the United States. Until these issues are resolved, the ability to satisfy the country’s energy needs will be significantly challenged.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said, “This decision and the changing energy landscape should lead to cleaner and more reliable energy generation in North Carolina. Our Clean Energy Plan provides an excellent framework and stakeholder process for renewable energy moving forward.”
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