A “debacle,” a “one-sided show and tell,” a “well-orchestrated disaster“– this is how attendees at the latest round of ET Rover open houses have described the events, which have provided landowners and concerned citizens with very little helpful information and served only to stoke suspicion and create even more frustration and resistance. Energy Transfer is proving to be even more hapless in cultivating good relations with Michiganders than Enbridge. That’s an extraordinary feat.
The recent round of meetings has garnered a fair amount of press attention this week, which we’re glad to see. Unfortunately, those news reports mainly just note how unhelpful Rover’s informational meetings have been. They don’t really do much to correct the information deficit. Partly that’s because journalists, like local officials and landowners, appear not to really know where to turn for reliable information.
For example, Eric Dresden over at MLive turned to the Michigan Public Service Commission (you remember them, right?), an agency that has no authority or oversight whatsoever over this project. But of course, that didn’t stop MPSC spokesperson Judy Palnau from offering up this pointless, vapid, wrongheaded, industry-minded bit of claptrap: “The market does what the market does,” she said. “Generally speaking, it will increase supply and usually an increased supply means a better price.”
Reading the press coverage of ET Rover, we’ve encountered all sorts of other inaccuracies, large and small. According to another MLive article, for instance, ET spokesperson evidently told reporter Ben Freed that the FERC pre-filing process, which includes these open houses, is “optional.” That, too, is false.
So where to turn for accurate information? State representatives don’t appear to know much, although it is heartening to see them attending these meetings and (possibly) taking some action in facilitating public forums. The same goes for township supervisors, who also want to organize public forums that might be more productive that Rover’s pointless open houses. However, they’re also not sure where to turn. Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones (who is showing excellent Kathy Thurman-like leadership) is thinking of bringing in reps from the Michigan DEQ, for example. But as we learned recently, that’s a terrible idea. Just this week, a DEQ rep demonstrated that he has no idea what he’s talking about when it comes to these matters: he told one of our readers that “It is unlikely that eminent domain would be invoked for this commercial purpose”– a statement that is outrageously and absurdly false (see the comments section).
Even those who are trying to help landowners are full of misinformation. Down in Ohio, for example, a couple of attorneys have been holding open forums encouraging landowners to know their rights and act accordingly. We think that’s very important and also recommend hiring an attorney (when that time comes). But it’s also disturbing to see these attorneys running around telling landowners that ET Rover already has the power of eminent domain (which they do NOT), among other minor inaccuracies. It’s bad enough that ET Rover’s information can’t be trusted. Those on the side of landowners ought not to compound the spread of misinformation.
Similarly, another otherwise helpful resource for landowners, Curtis Talley at the Michigan State Extension recently responded to a reporter’s question about how Rover might affect property values by saying, “It probably won’t affect land values, but it possibly could, based on someone’s location,” he said. But that is far from clear. There’s good evidence to suggest that natural gas pipelines DO negative effect property values. Here, for instance, is a right of way attorney making that case (of course, that was before Enbridge hired him and paid him to start saying just the opposite; but that’s another story). The truth of the matter is, the question of pipelines and property values is murky and unclear. Nobody knows for certain– a fact that should not bring comfort to landowners.
All of this is why we are here. We work hard to provide clear, factual, accurate information. If you’re new to the site, start with this post, which has important links that explain the process. And we will continue to try, both here and over on our Facebook pagem to correct false or misleading information wherever we encounter it.
Lastly, we’d just like to say that it’s been inspiring to watch residents in townships north of Oakland County– those along the “new” ET Rover route– step up their efforts to inform themselves and one another. Many of those residents are commenting here and we applaud and admire their efforts, which are yielding results: already, two new townships, Hadley and Atlas, have passed formal resolution opposing the project. Atlas Township has also filed its resolution with FERC. It appears (or so we hope!) that others townships are going to follow suit. Please contact your local officials!
Contact your state elected officials!!! Elections are this fall! IMO, we need to engage their assistance for hearings on why this pipeline is warranted and being routed for least disruption. Delays will push it out of our area.
Hi Jeff,
Just wanted to update your info, in Lapeer County Hadley passed their resolution 2 weeks ago and according to some good information, Lapeer Twp was drafting theirs. There are a couple other townships that have requested information but the residents need to keep calling and emailing to have their voice be heard. We also are gathering signatures for a petition asking for the County to pass a resolution. Finally, the FRWC (Flint River Watershed Coalition) is drafting a resolution also and sending it to FERC so things are moving along!
That’s awesome, Aura! I’ll update the post to reflect this. And please keep me updated about resolutions and other actions on the ground.
Fred
Here are some facts some people need to know.
Liability and insurance issues.
If I were to sign a contract with ET Rover
I would always have an increased insurance cost and would have to
carry huge & expensive limits for liability, if the property was
insurable at all.
Tell them to TAKE the right of way from me by eminent domain!
The court would TAKE the right of way from me by eminent domain!
The court would still award me something, but more important,
I would have no liability.
Bottom line, DON’T SIGN ANY AGREEMENTS WITH ET ROVER OR THEIR CONTRACTORS!
Fred
One more thing,
Would you buy a house or piece of property with a 42 inch gas pipeline running through it?
Just to be clear: the matter of insurance rates for properties with transmission lines on them is very murky. No one know for sure whether a transmission line will increase property owners’ insurance rates. Pipeline companies will tell you that underwriters typically do not raise rates for and in some cases that is true. But not always. Here is what what the Pipeline Safety Trust says about the matter in their Landowner’s Guide:
“Recent anecdotal evidence provided to the Pipeline Safety Trust suggests that insurance underwriters are, in fact, reacting
to the presence of transmission lines, particularly gas transmission lines, near residential properties and raising rates, or
in some instances, suggesting that insurance might not be available for a new buyer of a property where a transmission
line was recently constructed. This is a relatively new phenomenon, and while it may be true that some underwriters do
not consider the presence of a transmission line to be a rate factor, at least some do. You may want to consider this as one of the things you discuss with a pipeline company seeking an easement over your property, or discuss with your insurer if you are buying or selling a property.” (p. 27)
http://pstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/pst_LandOwnersGuide_2014_forweb.pdf
So unfortunately, this is another matter of great uncertainty– and therefore something to consider.
Fred,
Where did you get that information from? I have heard this from several people but would like to see documentation of this
Thanks,
Gary
For anyone interested…Elba Township is having their general meeting tonight at 7:00 pm. ET Rover Pipeline Resolution is on the agenda. Although only a handful of Elba Township residents will be affected, it’s important for all our townships to show solidarity. Please, attend this meeting and make your concerns heard. The township hall is located on Lippincott Road just east of Hadley Road.
Yes and Almont is having their meeting as well tonight!
Viki fantastic job with your comments on the FERC site today. Please consider a letter to the editor too.
Letter was sent the next morning after attending the Elba Twp. meeting. Hopefully it will show up in Sunday’s paper.
Does anyone think forming a “Citizens Against ET Rover” group would be beneficial? It could be used to keep everyone updated on crucial information, help inform our neighbors that may not realize what is going on get involved, organize town halls with people that could offer legal advice, steps we can take to protect ourselves, lay our a Plan A, B & C for any contingencies, etc. Perhaps each township could have a contact person. The counties of Lapeer, Genesee, St. Clair and Oakland would be welcome to participate. An organized, grass roots show of force may be effective.
The next meeting for Elba Twp. is September 29, 2014 at 9:00 am. Not surprisingly, the ET Rover pipeline is not on the agenda, even though the board voted to draft a resolution opposing the pipeline. Anyone interested in going and finding what progress has been made would be most welcome. The posted minutes from last week’s meeting is as follows:
ET Rover Pipeline Resolution: The Board was provided a sample copy, in their packet, of Hadley Township’s
resolution regarding the proposed gas pipeline through Lapeer County. Discussion held regarding Elba Township creating a similar resolution in opposition to the proposed pipeline. The Board consensus is to create a resolution stating the facts that pertain to Elba Township; Supervisor Boskee requested that anyone with suggestions contact the Hall as soon as possible, he will compile the facts to prepare a resolution and bring it to the General Board for consideration.
Not sure if we’re being asked to do their job for them or not…..
Two nights ago I was on the FERC comments site and was able to open many documents that were submitted to FERC by ET Rover. I got online this morning and they have all been pulled. If you thought that, maybe, things were being done by stealth, now you know. Isn’t FERC the only one that can pull comments?
Evidently the older posts roll off. I found the documents I was looking for by looking for the oldest posts first. They’re still there.
Hi Vicki,
FYI At the urging of a core group of citizens Hadley Twp board is stepping up to the task of trying to get a countywide meeting re ET Rover pipeline. They are also collecting signatures to petition the Lapeer County Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution against it. Urge your Twp to work accordingly with Hadley Twp in behalf of the citizens.
From a good source we have learned that although Rover is in the pre application period they will begin offering cash advances to property owners willing to sign an easement in approximately 30 days. As a reminder Rover has not made actual application to FERC and does not intend to until 2015. However as with other pipeline companies this appears not to be out of the norm of signing as many people as possible as early as possible. At the end of the day the only thing they have to offer us is money and the money will always be available at a later date. Currently in Pennsylvania the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline also is in the pre application stage and has begun to offer cash advances too. http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=68e9e32c402998ba0209b4c7f&id=9a73016605 With the more info link there is a good discussion of the advantages going through the eminent domain process and is a must read. Please everyone do not accept the initial offer and cash advance from the Rover Landman, just say no. It is quite probable this pipeline can be stopped if only 25% of the property owners will not sign and exercise their right to go the eminent domain process.
If you go the Eminent Domain prosess, ET Rover will have to take you to court to establish what the cost of your property would be. ET Rover would still have to pay you for your property. So if everyone tells them to take their property by Eminent Domain it would at a great cost to Rover. Would Rover want to take everyone on the proposed pipeline route to court? I don’t think so.