The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to allow construction to resume on the Mariner East 2 and 2x pipelines in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, ending a weeks-long stoppage specific only to that area.
The shutdown began in May after a PUC administrative law judge’s highly questionable ruling, which affected ME1, ME2 and ME2x.
After a three-week shutdown, the PUC voted in June to approve the restart of ME1. At the time, it was the second time in a little more than a month that the PUC voted to restart the line after finding it poses no risk. Even though opponents of ME1 continue to question its safety, every finding is to the contrary, including the PUC’s own Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, which recommended restarting the line.
The same applies to Mariner East 2, where work has paused since that administrative law judge’s May ruling. With the PUC’s action today, Sunoco can resume work on the project in Chester County.
In response to the PUC action today, please find copied below a statement from the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance. Feel free to quote me, Kurt Knaus, as PEIA spokesman:
“The PUC has been a watchdog over this project and has ensured that construction is done safely and responsibly. This action is more evidence of the strict oversight that guides pipeline development in Pennsylvania. Getting this project back on track is an important step in re-powering our energy economy and encouraging further development in Pennsylvania communities.”