a research report
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is the proposed pipeline for the transportation of natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in the mid-Atlantic region. The proposed pipeline would run from gas hubs in Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to users in Virginia and North Carolina. An additional eastern lateral extends from Northampton County, NC to Hampton Roads, VA.
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The research presented here is the result of a collaboration between the University of Virginia and James Madison University. The goal of this project is not to answer the question of whether the pipeline should be constructed. Rather, it attempts to understand public perception and the pipeline’s architecture, cost, and risks.
This research seeks to address these questions:
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How does the public understand the risks associated with large-scale pipeline projects?
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Are there regional demographics and characteristics (e.g., income, land ownership, length of residence, and education) that influence route preference?
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Is the opposition to the ACP driven by conflicts between negative local impacts and positive regional/national impacts?
Public perception of pipeline architecture, cost, and risk.
