Economic Development Leaders Beware!
What could go wrong?
So the gas company proposes to bring prosperity to your town. What a wonderful opportunity to attract big business, create jobs and develop the region. You all get together to envision a greater future for everyone. You’re proud to part of the group that will change the valley, as well you should be.
Soon the project is a go. Pipeline routes are mapped out, the power plant construction is bid and schedules are established. You vote to change the zoning to accommodate what is needed for your plans.
Now is the time to get the word out and sell the plan to area residents. You know that private property will be taken, but you all believe that sacrifices have to be made. Thankfully, your property will not be impacted. You’re comforted believing that your constituents will be paid fair market values for their land. You’re also comforted to know that you will not have to witness the condemnation of this land. That will be done by layers of companies and land grab professionals. You have confidence that the gas company will act in good faith. You consider them good corporate citizens. You believe that they will tell the truth and will not be motivated by profits, timelines or personal bonuses.
You now hold a scoping meeting to hear comments. You have all your friends and political colleagues there to testify on behalf of the entire business community and residence of the valley. You’re not worried about the project being derailed because everything is neatly lined up.
FERC is waiting in the wings to receive the official application. They have promised a quick turn-around of the application. Surveys are nearly complete along the 35 mile route. Landowner negotiations are nearly complete. Three more weeks and it will be done.
People who live along the route are coping with the idea of living near a 20” gas pipeline. They try to imagine the 100 foot wide cut through their property. They scour the internet for information and find many examples of the risks and impact to their lives. Explosions like the one in Sissonville, WV, also a 20” pipeline with 929 PSI at the time it blew. It melted the highway, guard rails and burned acres. Alarmingly, the gas company monitoring system never detected the explosion. The NTSB found that inspections were not done and that the gas company could have prevented this disaster. Two years ago, a 12” line in WV exploded and, once again, burned over 2 acres of land and buildings. The failure was due to faulty welds. The pipeline was only two years old.
People worry about their personal investments, property value and the restricted use of their own land. People struggle to get accurate information. The very people that you serve want to know that someone is looking out for them.
As an elected official or appointed member of the economic development community are you sure that you have asked enough questions and thoroughly understand the risks, the rewards and the benefits? We all hope that you have.
After all, what could go wrong?
Don O'Hora
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