Doddridge County

The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) project is a natural gas pipeline that would span approximately 303 miles from the north of West Virginia to the south of Virginia. In West Virginia, it would pass through eleven counties – Wetzel, Harrison, Doddridge, Lewis, Braxton, Webster, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers, and Monroe. The following describes benefits to West Virginia and Doddridge County from construction spending, pipeline operations, ad valorem taxes, and direct use of natural gas. Full reports and maps can be downloaded below and for more information, please visit our FAQ’s page.

Construction Benefits
The MVP project developers expected to spend $811 million on West Virginia-based labor, goods, and services from 2015 to 2018 to support construction of the project. This direct spending would add $594 million in cumulative gross regional product to West Virginia during that period and up to 4,500 jobs in 2017 and 2018 during the peak of construction. With its established natural gas production and manufacturing base, Doddridge County could contribute labor and other resources to the construction effort.

Pipeline Operation Benefits
Ongoing operation of the pipeline would support a total of 54 jobs across the state with average annual wages and benefits of $65,000.

Ad Valorem Tax Benefits
The MVP project is expected to generate $1 million in annual county ad valorem taxes (property taxes) once the pipeline is in service.

Direct-Use Benefits
Residential, Commercial, and Municipal
Over 80% of the residential sector in the county uses natural gas for home heating. Native production wells provide a large portion of gas supply. The MVP project could provide additional gas supply as native production declines. The project also could help enable switching as West Virginia natural gas prices in 2014 were less than half the cost of delivered electricity prices.

Manufacturing and Gas Production
While there are no major manufacturers in the county, providing additional access to a low-cost fuel source can attract future manufacturers to the county. Additionally, the MVP project offers an opportunity for natural gas producers to move their natural gas through the pipeline to nine other counties in West Virginia, five counties in Virginia, and a large portion of the U.S. Southeast, which could translate into significant impacts to the county’s economy.

Transportation
Fuel switching in municipal and private vehicle fleets could present a savings opportunity to the community. There are estimated to be approximately 60 school buses, other school vehicles, solid waste disposal trucks, and county vehicles, which if converted from gasoline and diesel, would yield approximately $9,000 in annual savings, which would increase significantly if fuel prices rise.