Energy Transfer is proud to be a part of the communities where we live, work and operate – from partnering with local businesses and nonprofits to supporting first responders and veterans to providing environmental stewardship. As we wrap up another successful year, we want to celebrate some of the community initiatives and projects we’ve accomplished right here in Pennsylvania.
#1 – Major Progress on Mariner East 2 and 2X Brings Project Close to Completion
This year, we installed additional pipe and placed nearly 50 more miles into service across both the 16- and 20-inch pipelines. Pipeline installation consisted of five horizontal directional drills (HDDs) and three direct pipe installations. Completing this work required nearly 1 million man hours – that’s thousands of family-sustaining jobs just in 2021 for our local tradesmen and women on this project.
We have completed our final HDD and have just one section of pipeline remaining to install in Chester County. We look forward to placing the full line into service!
#2 – Received Approval for 290 Major Mod
We have received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to modify our existing permit on our one remaining construction site, the 290 Major Mod in Chester County. We want to thank the more than 800 people who submitted comments in support of this work. More than half of those who testified during a June 2021 DEP hearing expressed support of the permit approval to allow Energy Transfer to complete this project.
#3 – Pennsylvania Access Expands Access to Fuel
An added bonus of nearing completion on Mariner East 2 and 2X is that our Pennsylvania Access initiative is ready to come online. Pennsylvania Access will bring refined products including gasoline and ultra-low-sulfur diesel from the Midwest through our existing Allegheny Access Pipeline system into Pennsylvania. Once in Pennsylvania, the project will utilize part of the existing Mariner East system to distribute the products throughout Pennsylvania and the Northeast markets. We expect to begin flowing product next month, which is welcome news for Pennsylvanians because it will allow additional domestic gasoline to reach Pennsylvania and other East Coast markets to meet demand.
#4 – More than $200,000 Awarded to Pennsylvania First Responders Through First Responder Fund
We had another productive year supporting Pennsylvania first responder organizations through the Energy Transfer First Responder Fund. We awarded more than $200,000 in grants to fund personal protective equipment, all-terrain vehicles, facility upgrades, radio infrastructure and more. Since 2016, the First Responder Fund has helped emergency response organizations enhance rescue capabilities through training and replacing or upgrading rescue equipment.
#5 – Supporting Pennsylvania’s Lakes and Waterways
In honor of Earth Day and as part of our commitment to protecting the lakes and waterways that our pipelines traverse in Pennsylvania, we volunteered for lake cleanup days at Loyalhanna Lake in Westmoreland County and Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County. We also brought a group of volunteers to help build fish habitat structures at Raystown Lake.
#6 – Supporting the Special Olympics of PA
This year we again served as the “Guardian of the Torch” sponsor at the 11th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, held by the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. A group of Energy Transfer employees ran the first leg of the 26-mile race from Xfinity Live! in Philadelphia to Villanova University. We also look forward to sponsoring the Polar Plunge in January. This is part of Energy Transfer’s multi-year commitment to supporting the Special Olympics of PA with contributions totaling $450,000.
#7 – Supporting Youth Sports and Parks
In addition to sponsoring the Phillies Home Run Derby, Energy Transfer has always made an effort to support local youth sports leagues in the areas where we operate. This year, we made a $3.5 million investment into brand-new baseball fields and a park for Exton Little League in Chester County; we made donations to Burgettstown Area Youth Baseball and Softball Association in Washington County, as well as Burgettstown Youth Football for an AED; and we donated $25,250 to Salem Township, Luzerne County, for a new park pavilion.
#8 – Addressing Food Insecurity
Energy Transfer and Sunoco have supported Philabundance for more than 16 years as one of its largest annual funders. From providing fuel grants, volunteering, and sorting and packing food to supporting the Camp Out for Hunger and Community Kitchen programs, we are proud to play a role in providing hundreds of thousands of meals to those in need throughout the Philadelphia region.
We have also provided support for the Cokesbury United Methodist Church near the Marcus Hook Terminal since 2020. This year, we partnered with Cokesbury to sponsor and volunteer for its “Super Saturday” summer program, which provided meals and activities for students over the summer, as well as the Sunday Supper program.
#9 – Habitat Improvements
We assist with many habitat improvement projects across the commonwealth, including projects on seven Pennsylvania State Game Lands that our pipelines traverse. In September, we were proud to attend a Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) meeting to celebrate successful construction and restoration on State Game Lands, as well as to acknowledge some of the long-term improvements we’ve completed.
#10 – Energy Transfer Marcus Hook Fire Brigade Brings Local Departments to Texas Training
In November, the Marcus Hook Terminal Fire Brigade participated in its annual industrial training at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Energy Transfer’s brigade invited other southeast PA departments, including Marcus Hook Trainer Fire Department, Upper Chichester Fire Department, the Delaware County hazmat team and more. Participants spent several days learning to fight flammable liquid and natural gas liquids (NGLs) fires under the direction of the Marcus Hook Terminal emergency response leaders.
#11 – Emergency Responder Outreach & Training for Over 3,000 First Responders
Our Mariner Emergency Responder Outreach (MERO) Program provides NGL incident training for emergency responders along pipelines. We were proud to host 15 sessions this year with more than 300 attendees. To date, we have trained more than 3,000 first responders through the MERO program.
We also sponsored additional emergency response training with other pipeline operators through the Paradigm Coordinated Response Exercise (CoRE) program. Preparedness activities included emergency responder training, facility tours and public information mailers. We sponsored 23 virtual meetings in Pennsylvania this year with nearly 300 attendees.
#12 – “A Day in the Life” of a Terminal Operator
In an effort to share what Energy Transfer employees do every day to safely process and transport the raw materials we rely on, we highlighted a day in the life of a Marcus Hook Terminal operator, Jim Dewar. We look forward to future installments and highlighting various roles in our organization.
#13 – Highlighting Women in Engineering and Construction
Energy Transfer partnered with the National Association of Women in Construction to celebrate Women in Construction Week in March. We were proud to highlight three of the many women at Energy Transfer who make our energy projects possible.
#14 – Tele-Town Halls Keep Communities Informed
We hosted several tele-town halls this year to engage with residents, local legislators and other stakeholders. This included a town hall with Sen. John Yudichak, who spoke with residents of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wyoming counties; a town hall with residents of Glen Riddle Station Apartments in Delaware County; and a town hall in June about the 290 Major Mod with Chester and Delaware counties. The tele-town hall platform continues to serve as one of many helpful and accessible public outreach tools we utilize.
#15 – Planksgiving Challenge for CHOP
Marcus Hook Terminal’s fourth annual Planksgiving Day Challenge was a huge success in raising money for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). This year, the Marcus Hook team was able to raise $13,680 for CHOP. The event has grown into a team operation with three competitions: plank challenge, cornhole tournament and football toss. Since its inception, the Planksgiving event has raised more than $30,000 for CHOP.
#16 – A Focus on Fishing
We are always proud to support local fishermen and environmental organizations across Pennsylvania. This year, we partnered with the Pennsylvania Striped Bass Association as the Tournament Trail sponsor.
Our team also assisted with the treatment of hydrilla, an invasive plant that can impact fisheries and recreation, at Raystown Lake. Lastly, we sponsored and volunteered at the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Family Fishing Day at Rose Valley Lake in Lycoming County.
#17 – Honoring Veterans – On the Ice
Energy Transfer is the proud title sponsor of the Energy Transfer Veterans Memorial Rink, a brand-new ice rink in Edgmont Township, Delaware County. The ice rink is a project by the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, which we have supported for several years. The rink will host many family-friendly events for years to come.
#18 – Received “Good of the Township” Award
Energy Transfer was honored to receive the “Good of the Township Award” from Washington Township, Cambria County, following successful Mariner East 2 pipeline installation and restoration. Close coordination with the governments and communities where we operate is a top priority.
#19 – Educating Visitors at Raccoon Creek State Park
In September, Energy Transfer helped the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation unveil a series of interpretive panels to educate visitors about the rich history of Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County. Our $16,000 donation brought the project to life at the Wildflower Reserve Interpretive Center.
#20 – Army-Navy Cup
Energy Transfer and Sunoco both sponsored the Army-Navy Cup on Oct. 9 at Subaru Park in Chester. It was great to see the friendly rivalry play out on the soccer pitch – and among our own veterans, representing both Army and Navy!
#21 – Phillies Home Run Derbies
For the third year, Energy Transfer served as the title sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies Home Run Derby. The annual program is held in more than 50 locations statewide for children ages 7-12, culminating in a championship game at Citizens Bank Park in September.
