STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA April 4, 2017 Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr. Deputy Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street NE, Room 1A Washington, DC 20426 Re: Docket Nos. CP15-554-000 and CP15-554-001(Atlantic Coast Pipeline) Dear Mr. Davis: As leaders of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates; Virginia Senate and House of Delegates; and North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, we respectfully ask the Commission to approve the pending application for a major project that holds great potential to improve the economies and supply of energy in our states: the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The project represents a much-needed addition to our nation’s energy infrastructure, since it would provide a new, direct pathway for the burgeoning natural gas production in West Virginia and elsewhere in the Appalachian Basin to reach the growing markets of the Southeast. For the people of our states, the project also holds the promise of thousands of new jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars of new economic activity, and lower energy prices. Additionally, we believe the pipeline would protect our region’s environment by making clean-burning natural gas more available for the production of electricity. We are also very encouraged by the Commission staff’s findings in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) assessing the project. The draft EIS, in our opinion, conclusively demonstrates that construction and operation of the ACP would pose no threat to our states’ priceless natural resources. Studies have repeatedly shown that the project would produce enormous benefits for the economies of West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, beginning with the construction phase. These benefits were highlighted in a September 2014 report by the consulting firm of Chmura Economics & Analytics. The report’s forecast of the total economic activity generated by pipeline construction is impressive: almost $479 million in West Virginia, $1.4 billion in Virginia and more than $680 million in North Carolina. Chmura’s estimates of the number of new jobs supported by the construction phase are noteworthy as well: almost 3,100 in West Re: Docket Nos. CP15-554-000 and CP15-554-001(Atlantic Coast Pipeline) April 4, 2017 Page 2   Virginia, 8,800 in Virginia and more than 4,400 in North Carolina. Many of these positions would be skilled labor directly employed in construction. The new jobs would offer hope and opportunity to thousands of hard-working men and women in our states. Although we have strived to promote economic growth and provide new jobs for our citizens, the recovery from the last decade’s recession has been weak and progress has often been slow. Construction of the ACP would quickly improve that situation. In the words of Virginia Governor McAuliffe, the pipeline would be a “game changer.” We agree. Once it enters operation, the project would also help our economies move forward. In West Virginia, the ACP would promote the continued growth of natural gas production, particularly from the Marcellus and Utica shale fields. The pipeline would directly link these supplies to rapidly growing southeastern markets. And in Virginia and North Carolina, the pipeline would ease constraints plaguing an interstate natural gas pipeline system that has reached its capacity, often leaving it unable to serve new, energy-intensive customers. This has severely hampered our ability to attract new businesses, particularly modern manufacturing operations. The pipeline’s operation would greatly improve our states’ competitive positions and provide a significant boost to our economic development efforts. Finally, the project would mean valuable new tax revenues for many of our counties and cities. According to a recent study by Dominion, the pipeline through the period ending in 2025 would generate more than $60.1 million in property tax payments for West Virginia localities; more than $70.6 million for Virginia localities; and more than $60 million for North Carolina localities. These revenues will greatly assist our local governments as they work to maintain many vital services, such as education, transportation and law enforcement. In short, construction and operation of the ACP represents a tremendous new opportunity for our states, and particularly for our working people. The benefits would be felt in many ways: job creation, economic growth, improved energy reliability, new revenues for local governments. All of this can be accomplished through a project that would not only protect but even improve the environment. We believe the case for the ACP is clear, and again we respectfully urge the Commission to approve it after the conclusion of your thorough and timely review. Sincerely, The Honorable William J. Howell Speaker of the House Commonwealth of Virginia The Honorable Timothy K. Moore Speaker of the House State of North Carolina Re: Docket Nos. CP15-554-000 and CP15-554-001(Atlantic Coast Pipeline) April 4, 2017 Page 3   The Honorable Mitchell B. Carmichael President of the Senate State of West Virginia The Honorable Phil Berger Senate President Pro Tempore State of North Carolina The Honorable Thomas K. Norment, Jr. Majority Leader of the Senate Commonwealth of Virginia The Honorable Ryan J. Ferns Majority Leader of the Senate State of West Virginia The Honorable John R. Bell, IV Majority Leader of the House State of North Carolina The Honorable M. Kirkland Cox Majority Leader of the House Commonwealth of Virginia The Honorable Daryl E. Cowles Majority Leader of the House State of West Virginia The Honorable Daniel T. Blue, Jr. Minority Leader of the Senate State of North Carolina The Honorable Richard S. Saslaw Minority Leader of the Senate Commonwealth of Virginia The Honorable Roman W. Prezioso, Jr. Minority Leader of the Senate State of West Virginia The Honorable Corey L. Palumbo Minority Whip of the Senate State of West Virginia The Honorable Timothy R. Miley Minority Leader of the House State of West Virginia The Honorable Ken Goodman Chairman, Main Street Democrats State of North Carolina The Honorable Matthew James Vice Chair, Hampton Roads Caucus Commonwealth of Virginia