Hope Gas pipeline abandonment proposal raises financial concerns for W.Va. gas producers

PENNSBORO, W.Va. (WCHS) — Hope Gas wants to abandon more than 1,000 miles of pipeline in more than 20 West Virginia counties, a move that would switch about 600 customers who get service by tapping into Hope transmission lines to propane or electricity.

The Public Service Commission. citing the high cost per customer of continuing natural gas service, calls it a prudent course of action. The farm-tap change is contingent on the commission approving Hope abandoning the lines.

Ritchie County gas producers fear the change will leave them without a way for moving their gas from low production wells to market.

“We may not have anywhere to move our gas if the lines are abandoned and we don’t have any clear view as to how these lines could go ahead and be repaired and maintained,” Ritchie County gas producer Gerald Hall said. “At this point it’s an abandonment and we’ll have no place to move our gas.”

Hall believes there are more farm-tap customers than Hope says and that without the Red Line pipeline, the value of people’s land will drop. The county has a disproportionate amount of pipeline and some residents are worried about severance tax.

“If they do away with this it’s really going to hurt the revenue side when it comes to our taxes,” Ritchie County Commissioner Randall Riggs said.

Hope was ordered to conduct public meetings in locations convenient to affected customers. That meeting for Ritchie County residents is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ellenboro Town Hall.

State regulators will look at the pipeline abandonment at a public hearing in Charleston now planned for May 14.

Eyewitness News reached out to Hope Gas for comment, but did not receive a response.