| By Bob Weaver
Calhoun and regional gas producers are suffering losses after an explosion and fire
struck Hastings Station in Wetzel County over a month ago.
There is no official word regarding a plant start-up, and calls to Dominion in
Clarksburg have not been returned.
Most of Calhoun's gas producers have been unable to sell gas through the Dominion
owned facility, after the company advised the producers their wells must be shut
in.
Dominion has been closed-mouth about the causes of the explosion, indicating the
facility could be down for several months. Rumors were afloat last week it might be
up and running in a few days.
One source speculated $1 million dollars a day is being lost with Hastings being
off-line. Dominion charges regional producers a 12 1/2 percent extraction fee to
transport their gas, along with other charges.
Although some gas is being sold from southern Calhoun through another outlet, a
local producer said Dominion owned wells are "wide open," ignoring the independent
producers.
Natural gas prices are up, and the loss of sales may hurt the independent companies.
Some may be facing lay-offs of employees.
Calhoun County is losing tax money from the shut-down. Assessor Jason Nettles said
the problem will not hit the county budget until 2005. "If the shutdown goes on for a
long time, it could mean a significant loss," said Nettles.
Dominion has a near monopoly on extraction for most of West Virginia's central and
northern counties.
Local producers say it will be a gradual process to get the system back to normal
operation, after the company gives the go-ahead.
The facility extracts byproducts from natural gas before it is shipped to distributors.
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