Coast Pipeline’s obligation under a $3.4 billion revolving credit facility. See Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
FUTURE ISSUES AND OTHER MATTERS
See Item 1. Business and Notes 13 and 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on various environmental, regulatory, legal and other matters that may impact future results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
Environmental Matters
Dominion Energy is subject to costs resulting from a number of federal, state and local laws and regulations designed to protect human health and the environment. These laws and regulations affect future planning and existing operations. They can result in increased capital, operating and other costs as a result of compliance, remediation, containment and monitoring obligations.
Environmental Protection and Monitoring Expenditures
Dominion Energy incurred $198 million, $200 million and $394 million of expenses (including accretion and depreciation) during, 2018, 2017 and 2016 respectively, in connection with environmental protection and monitoring activities. Dominion Energy expects these expenses to be approximately $191 million and $183 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In addition, capital expenditures related to environmental controls were $104 million, $201 million, and $191 million for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Dominion Energy expects these expenditures to be approximately $192 million and $203 million for 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Future Environmental Regulations
Air
In August 2018, the EPA proposed the Affordable Clean Energy rule as a replacement for the Clean Power Plan. The Affordable Clean Energy rule applies to fossil fuel-fired steam electric generating units greater than or equal to 25 MW, however, it does not apply to combustion turbines or units that burn biomass. The proposed rule includes unit-specific performance standards based on the degree of emission reduction levels achievable from unit efficiency improvements to be determined by the permitting agency. The Affordable Clean Energy rule would require states to develop plans within three years of the final rule to implement these performance standards. These state plans must be approved by the EPA. Given these developments and the associated federal and state regulatory and legal uncertainties, Dominion Energy cannot predict the potential financial statement impacts but believes the potential expenditures to comply could be material.
Climate Change
In December 2015, the Paris Agreement was formally adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. A key element of the initial U.S. commitment to the agreement was the implementation of the Clean Power Plan, which the EPA has proposed to repeal. In June 2017, the Administration announced that the U.S. intends to file to withdraw from the Paris Agreement in 2019. Several states, including Virginia, subsequently announced a commitment to achieving the carbon reduction goals of the Paris Agreement. It is not possible at this time to predict the timing and impact of this withdrawal, or how any legal requirements in the U.S. at the federal, state or local levels pursuant to the Paris Agreement could impact the Companies’ customers or the business.
State Actions Related to Air and GHG Emissions
In August 2017, the Ozone Transport Commission released a draft model rule for control of NOX emissions from natural gas pipeline compressor fuel-fire prime movers. States within the ozone transport region, including states in which Dominion Energy has natural gas operations, are expected to develop reasonably achievable control technology rules for existing sources based on the Ozone Transport Commission model rule. States outside of the Ozone Transport Commission may also consider the model rules in setting new reasonably achievable control technology standards.
In January 2018, the VDEQ published for comment a proposed state carbon regulation program linked to RGGI. In February 2019, the VDEQ proposed a revised rule with a 28 million ton initial carbon cap, which is 15% lower than the original proposal, based on revised modeling that uses projections of lower natural gas prices and additional solar capacity. A final rule is expected inmid-2019. Several other states in which Dominion Energy operates, including Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Ohio are developing or have announced plans to develop state-specific regulations to control GHG emissions, including methane. Dominion Energy cannot currently estimate the potential financial statement impacts related to these matters, but there could be a material impact to its financial condition and/or cash flows.
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