RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) today provided the following statement:

"Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied the Atlantic Coast Pipeline's (ACP) request for an en banc rehearing related to the Court's invalidation of the project's U.S. Forest Service Appalachian Trail crossing authorization.  ACP's en banc petition was supported by the Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service, as well as several prominent industry, labor, and business groups.

"Dominion Energy expects an appeal to be filed to the Supreme Court of the United States in the next 90 days.  The company is also pursuing legislative and administrative options as previously discussed on Dominion Energy's Feb. 1, 2019 earnings call.  We are confident that the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture have the authority to resolve the Appalachian Trail crossing issue administratively in a manner that satisfies the Court's stated objection and in a timeframe consistent with a restart of at least partial construction during the third quarter.  We will continue to work to resolve the outstanding biological opinion issue as well as any impediments to the project's crossing of the Appalachian Trail, and believe, as a result, that at least partial construction will recommence in the third quarter of 2019.

"The project cost and timing guidance provided on the company's Feb. 1 earnings call fully contemplated the possibility of an unsuccessful en banc request.  Therefore, yesterday's Fourth Circuit decision does not alter our operating EPS guidance as provided to the investment community on that call.  Dominion Energy remains confident in the full completion of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline along the entire 600-mile route."

Dominion Energy is a 48% owner of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

About Dominion Energy
Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy with about $100 billion of assets providing electric generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas storage, transmission, distribution and import/export services. As one of the nation's leading solar operators, the company intends to reduce its carbon intensity 60 percent by 2030. Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $35 million in 2018 to community causes throughout its footprint and beyond. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

SOURCE Dominion Energy