December 2025 Vol. 80 No. 12
NEWSLINE
Newsline: Latest industry developments
Dominion proposes 186-mile underground HVDC power line
Dominion Energy Virginia has proposed a 186-mile underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line designed to deliver additional electric capacity to Loudoun County, one of the fastest-growing power demand centers in the region.
The project would connect Dominion’s Heritage substation in Brunswick County to the Mosby substation in Loudoun County, running entirely underground and largely within existing transmission rights-of-way. The proposal is part of PJM Interconnection’s Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, which evaluates projects to address grid constraints across 13 states and Washington, D.C.
According to county documents, the project is the only shortlisted PJM proposal that would terminate directly inside Loudoun County’s primary load center, a factor cited as key to meeting rapidly growing residential, commercial and data-center demand. The line is expected to follow existing overhead corridors, reducing the need for new property acquisitions and limiting surface disruption.
County staff recommended that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors submit a letter of support for the proposal, emphasizing the benefits of underground HVDC construction, including added capacity without new overhead infrastructure, reduced community impacts and long-term cost efficiency. The board approved the letter during its Dec. 2 business meeting.
Poll shows 75% of Canadians back new pipeline projects
Support for new pipeline construction in Canada has seen a significant increase, with 75 percent of Canadians endorsing new pipelines to Eastern Canada and British Columbia, according to a recent MEI-Ipsos poll. The survey results, released today, reflect a sharp 14 percentage point rise from last year, underscoring the growing recognition of the importance of diversifying Canada's oil and gas export markets.
The poll indicates that most Canadians understand the critical role energy infrastructure plays in national prosperity. Gabriel Giguère, senior policy analyst at the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), noted, “While there has always been strong support for new pipelines, recent trade disputes have further solidified public backing for these projects, which are seen as essential to the country’s economic future.”
Quebec also showed strong support for energy development, with 67 percent of residents backing Marinvest Energy’s natural gas pipeline and liquefaction plant project in the province's North Shore region. The project, aimed at reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas, aligns with a growing sentiment in Quebec favoring energy development. Additionally, 54 percent of Quebecers now support the development of the province’s oil resources, marking a six-point increase from the previous year.
The survey also highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the current approval process for major infrastructure projects. Seventy-one percent of Canadians, including 63 percent of Quebecers, believe the process is too slow and should be reformed. This sentiment has led to growing calls for quicker, more efficient environmental assessments and permitting. While recent legislative efforts, such as Bill C-5 and Quebec’s Bill 5, aim to expedite approvals for projects of national interest, Giguère argues that a broader overhaul of the approval process would be more effective than temporary workarounds.
Alaska LNG wins early federal approval, clearing final permit for 800-mile pipeline
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council announced Thursday that it has completed all federal approvals for the Alaska LNG project, finalizing a permitting process that began in 2017 and clearing one of the largest infrastructure projects in modern U.S. history.
The NOAA Fisheries permit renewal, issued Dec. 10, marked the final authorization required under the federal FAST-41 process. The project includes an 800-mile (1,287 km) natural gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope to a liquefaction and export terminal in South Central Alaska, capable of delivering up to 3.5 Bcf/d of gas for domestic use and global export.
The $40 billion project, sponsored by 8 Star Alaska LLC, a Glenfarne-led consortium, is designed to unlock the state’s North Slope gas reserves, create long-term jobs and expand energy access for both Alaskans and international partners.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) served as the lead agency for the review, coordinating efforts under the FAST-41 permitting framework.
With federal permitting now complete, Alaska LNG moves closer to a potential final investment decision and construction start.
House passes PERMIT Act to streamline clean water rules
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act, legislation designed to streamline Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting and reduce project delays for energy, pipeline, and infrastructure developers.
The bill (H.R. 3898) passed the House on Dec. 11, 2025, with support from Republican lawmakers who said the measure would modernize outdated permitting processes and ease costs tied to infrastructure construction. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) as an original cosponsor.
“The PERMIT Act is a package of commonsense reforms to Clean Water Act permitting processes that will help lower construction costs and utility bills, speed up infrastructure project timelines, and provide greater regulatory certainty,” Graves said. “The reforms will have an immediate impact on energy producers, home builders, water utilities, and everyday Americans who have to navigate complex and confusing permitting processes.”
Supporters say the bill will help ensure continued water quality protections while giving states and developers more certainty in meeting CWA requirements. It also seeks to limit litigation that has stalled projects unrelated to environmental quality.
The measure now moves to the U.S. Senate, where further debate is expected over how far the reforms should go in changing the federal permitting framework for major infrastructure and pipeline projects.
Judge clears distribution of $626 million Flint water crisis settlement funds
A federal judge has authorized the distribution of payments from the $626-million Flint water crisis settlement, clearing the way for compensation to more than 26,000 claimants more than a decade after the crisis began.
U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy issued the order Wednesday, approving the claims administration process and authorizing Special Master Deborah Greenspan to finalize award terms and begin issuing payments. The ruling allows previously corrected claims to move forward and enables individuals who were minors at the time of settlement approval but are now adults to complete required documentation online.
The settlement fund includes $600 million from the State of Michigan, $20 million from Flint’s insurance carriers, $5 million from McLaren Flint Hospital and $1.2 million from Rowe Professional Services. Veolia North America, which served as a consultant on Flint’s water system, contributed an additional $53 million. Separate litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remains ongoing and could further increase the total fund.
Claims are divided into 30 categories based on age and documented lead exposure, with payments ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. Children exposed to elevated lead levels between birth and age six are expected to receive the highest awards. Claims for minors that are not approved will be placed into a Future Children’s Fund until eligibility requirements are met.
Distribution will begin with residential property claims to validate the payment system. Claimants will receive notification letters containing unique access codes to select their preferred payment method and formally accept settlement terms through an online portal. Greenspan is also authorized to negotiate Medicare liens and oversee reimbursements for certain claimant-related costs, including probate expenses, as well as manage the distribution of attorneys’ fees in accordance with prior court orders.
While court approval marks a major procedural milestone, some Flint residents have expressed continued skepticism, saying confidence will come only once funds are received.
LA County pushes to bury overhead power lines after wildfires
Los Angeles County leaders are pushing to move electrical lines and other critical infrastructure underground following the devastating wildfires that swept through West L.A. earlier this year.
The county’s Board of Supervisors voted to support efforts to bury power lines, citing safety and resiliency concerns. Southern California Edison has already begun relocating about 40 miles of cables underground in areas such as Topanga Canyon, Rambla Pacifico and along Pacific Coast Highway. However, officials say the process has been complicated by telecom companies that share utility poles and have declined to move their lines underground as well.
“Undergrounding, simply put, saves lives,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told ABC7 News. “While Edison is removing their top portion of poles and undergrounding electrical lines, telecom providers who share these poles under a joint agreement are refusing to do the same.”
Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said undergrounding would not only prevent downed lines from blocking evacuation routes — as seen during the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise — but would also create more durable and disaster-resistant communication systems.
The move has gained strong community support in fire-prone regions, where residents say burying lines could improve reliability, reduce outages, and make neighborhoods safer and more visually appealing.
County leaders are now considering filing a formal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission if telecom companies continue to resist. Horvath said she hopes to reach a cooperative agreement but emphasized that “we have to take action on behalf of our residents.”
Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two
One worker was killed and two others were injured recently after a trench collapse at a residential job site in Clermont County, Ohio. The crew had been installing a buried pipe when the trench caved in around 3:50 p.m., trapping all three workers roughly 15 feet below ground, according to multiple news outlets.
According to emergency officials, two of the workers were buried up to their waists, while the third was buried up to his head and did not survive. All three men are believed to be between 20 and 40 years old.
Rescue crews stabilized the trench and removed the two surviving workers, who were alert but showed signs of hypothermia and other injuries. Miami Township Fire Chief Dave Jetter said on-scene responders used a propane heater and warmed IV fluids to help maintain their body temperature during the hours-long rescue.
Officials noted that no trench box or protective system was in use, complicating rescue operations due to soft, unstable soil conditions.
OSHA has launched an investigation into the incident.
Waterline breaks force closure at Grand Canyon; $208 million replacement project starts
Grand Canyon National Park will temporarily suspend overnight lodging on the South Rim beginning Dec. 6 due to major breaks in the park’s aging 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline – a critical underground system that delivers water from the inner canyon to the South Rim.
The National Park Service (NPS) said water is currently not being pumped to the South Rim, prompting new restrictions on lodging and camping until repairs are made. While the park remains open for day use, all overnight accommodations inside the park — including Xanterra-operated hotels such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge and Maswik Lodge, as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village — will close temporarily. Hotels in nearby Tusayan will not be affected.
Dry camping will be permitted at Mather Campground, though spigot access will be turned off. Faucets in bathrooms and at the check-in kiosk will remain available. The park has also prohibited all wood and charcoal fires, including campfires and barbeques.
The waterline failure underscores ongoing infrastructure challenges in one of the nation’s most visited parks. Originally constructed in the 1960s, the Transcanyon Waterline has far exceeded its intended lifespan, requiring frequent and costly repairs.
In 2023, NPS launched a $208 million rehabilitation project to replace the failing system and upgrade the park’s broader water delivery network — an effort aimed at securing reliable water service for 5 million annual visitors and 2,500 year-round residents. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
EPA earmarks $3 billion to accelerate lead pipe replacements nationwide
The EPA has announced a fresh round of funding – $3 billion – allocated to states through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) to help replace lead service lines and reduce lead exposure in drinking water. In addition, the agency is redistributing $1.1 billion in previously awarded but unused SRF funds to states with outstanding lead-pipe replacement needs.
This funding push comes alongside updated national data showing a revised total of about 4 million active lead service lines – significantly lower than earlier estimates near 9 million. The updated count is based on recently submitted state inventories. The EPA also launched a new nationwide lead service-line inventory dashboard to help utilities and states pinpoint priorities and allocate funds more efficiently.
The funds can be used to support full lead service-line replacement, including planning, design, and actual pipe removal and replacement – targeting homes, schools, and businesses. The EPA is also requiring that states with unspent funds from past allocations submit updated action plans before receiving further aid.
With this action, the EPA says it aims to tackle lead contamination aggressively and ensure drinking water safety nationwide, particularly focusing on protecting children from lead exposure in their drinking water.
Plastics Pipe Institute marks 75-year anniversary
The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, marking decades of work promoting the development, performance and acceptance of plastic piping systems across North America and beyond.
Founded in 1950 as the Thermoplastic Pipe Division of the Society of the Plastics Industry, PPI later became an independent nonprofit trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry. Today, the organization supports more than 200 member companies and hundreds of volunteers engaged in technical committees, task groups and standards development.
PPI has played a central role in advancing plastic piping applications for water, wastewater, stormwater, gas distribution, energy, building systems and power and communications infrastructure. A key component of that work is the Hydrostatic Stress Board, which evaluates material performance and establishes pressure ratings to ensure long-term reliability and safety.
Over the years, PPI has expanded its technical and advocacy footprint through five application-focused divisions and increased engagement with regulators, utilities, engineers and policymakers. The association has also strengthened its sustainability and government affairs efforts, emphasizing plastic piping as a durable, low-carbon option for modern infrastructure needs.
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