© 2024 WFAE

Mailing Address:
WFAE 90.7
P.O. Box 896890
Charlotte, NC 28289-6890
Tax ID: 56-1803808
90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Due to scheduled maintenance, WFAE streaming channels may be interrupted on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Here are some of the other stories catching our attention.

Permit Delays Raise Concerns For Atlantic Coast Pipeline Owners

Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Legal delays on key environmental permits for the $7 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline are starting to hit home for the pipeline's owners - and raise concerns among investors.

Wall Street analysts have reduced their ratings on the shares of both Dominion Energy, the lead developer of the pipeline, and co-owner Duke Energy. And Dominion said earlier this month that while it still expects the pipeline to get built, it won't contribute to profits as soon as predicted.

Map shows the route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
Credit Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Map shows the route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

The 600-mile pipeline would carry fracked natural gas from West Virginia to Virginia and eastern North Carolina.

Related: Court Says Atlantic Coast Pipeline Can't Cross Appalachian Trail

But construction is on hold because of rulings last month by the federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia. The court issued a stay of a critical U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service permit and invalidated a U.S. Forest Service permit. Both are needed for work to proceed.  

Related story: Atlantic Coast Pipeline Work Halted After Court Stays Key Permit

Nothing will change until at least March, when the court hears Dominion's appeal on the Fish & Wildlife permit. And Dominion says it's also planning to appeal the Forest Service permit ruling.

The Fish & Wildlife permit would allow the pipeline to be built in areas that could threaten endangered species. The Forest Service permit authorizes the pipeline to cross two national forests and the Appalachian Trail in central Virginia.

Duke hasn't said how the delay might affect profits. A spokeswoman says the company is disappointed and will give an update during its quarterly earnings conference call with analysts on Feb. 14. Dominion also promises a financial update when it reports earnings Feb. 1.

David Boraks previously covered climate change and the environment for WFAE. See more at www.wfae.org/climate-news. He also has covered housing and homelessness, energy and the environment, transportation and business.