Landowners oppose Hope Gas pipeline project in Morgantown

Hope Gas is working on a project called the Morgantown Connector, which involves building a 30-mile pipeline to enhance natural gas supply to Morgantown. To do this, the company has filed 31 condemnation suits in Monongalia County Circuit Court for rights of way. Out of these, eight suits have been settled, but many landowners are unhappy with the process. Hope Gas aims to provide important infrastructure for West Virginia. They claim the project will create hundreds of jobs and support local contractors. However, landowners express concern about losing their land and rights. They fear the pipeline could pose safety risks, especially since it is a high-pressure line. Some landowners, like Ralph and Mary Jane Kerns, have lived on their farms for decades. They feel the compensation offered by Hope is unfair and worry about the potential hazards of having a pipeline so close to their homes. In another case, George Six stated he felt Hope did not follow legal procedures when surveying his property. He and other neighbors did not receive proper notice. Marion Tennant, another landowner affected, describes losing access to timber due to construction. He believes Hope's offers were insulting and feels the company is not negotiating fairly. Tennant has had a negative experience with Hope's representatives, claiming they did not communicate properly about surveying activities. The Morgantown Connector project is being undertaken to meet the increasing demand for natural gas from Morgantown Energy Associates and others. Hope Gas plans to enter a long-term contract for supply and claims the project will not result in immediate rate hikes for consumers.