Equitrans Midstream CEO: U.S. won't be able to meet future energy demand without permitting reform
Equitrans Midstream CEO Thomas Karam joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to discuss the new U.S. debt ceiling deal, ongoingΒ ...
Executive Chairman, Equitrans Mid
Search every verified Thomas Kar interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote β each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Thomas Karam, executive chairman of Equitrans Midstream, has spoken publicly about the company's efforts to complete the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and the broader need for permitting reform. In a September 2023 interview, Karam stated that the company expected full mobilization on the pipeline by early July after receiving approval to complete it, and he expressed gratitude that the project was included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. He said that "it should not take an act of Congress to construct infrastructure in this country that's necessary for energy security and reliability." Karam credited Senator Joe Manchin and others for advancing the project, and described a letter from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm deeming the pipeline in the national security interest as a "watershed event." He argued that without comprehensive permitting reform, the U.S. would not be able to meet projected increases in natural gas and electricity demand over the next 25 years. In earlier comments from 2019, following Equitrans Midstream's spinoff from EQT Corporation, Karam expressed a bullish long-term view on natural gas prices and emphasized the company's reliance on long-term fixed contracts to reduce exposure to price fluctuations. He said the company's strategy was an "execution story" and that it did not require mergers and acquisitions to succeed, though it would evaluate opportunities. Karam also reaffirmed a 2019 target for completing the Mountain Valley Pipeline at a cost of $4.6 billion.
“We expect full mobilization by early July. We have approval to complete the pipeline, and we're excited to get back to work.”
“It should not take an act of Congress to construct infrastructure in this country that's necessary for energy security and reliability.”
“We started to make our case back in early 2022 when the Fourth Circuit Court vacated our most recent biological opinion. In some cases, we were on our second or third round of agency permits.”
“Senator Manchin said, 'This doesn't sound right.' He picked up the mantle to quarterback this and to continue to make the case.”
“Secretary Granholm issuing the public letter of support deeming the pipeline to be in the national security interest was a watershed event allowing people on both sides of the aisle to say we should take this up because it's time for this project to be completed.”
“The language got a lot of attention because it bypasses the courts to allow these permits to be approved and for the process to continue forward.”
“I hope the momentum from including some directional reforms in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and specifically MVP, that both parties can get together to put comprehensive permitting reform into legislation.”
“If you think about our ability to continue to grow as a nation, generate economic opportunity and to maintain energy security, over the next 25 years the demand for natural gas is going to increase by 20 BCF a day, almost 20% increase.”
“The demand for electricity is going to increase by 150%. We will not be able to construct the infrastructure necessary to meet that demand growth unless we have comprehensive, meaningful permitting reform.”
“Well look we're bullish on the long term price of the natural gas strip; we think it was oversold for a while and we think the bounce back is warranted. You've seen oil drop a little bit so we think we're reaching an equilibrium and that means good things for the midstream sector.”
“Our mission at Equitrans Midstream is to make sure that we've got long-term fixed contracts so that we're not as vulnerable to the interim trading fluctuations of the strip.”
“The decision to split the company was based on the sum of the parts discount that had appeared post the Rice Energy acquisition by EQT. We see a very bright future and think we're going to end up being a really strong top-tier midstream company.”
“Our balance sheet is strong, our contract structure is strong, and our largest customer is the largest natural gas producer in the United States, so I think we're starting our journey as an independent company with some pretty strong fundamentals.”
“We try never to push things too far and our story is strong enough that it's an execution story. We just need to execute on the transactions in front of us in order to be successful. We don't need M&A to be successful in our strategy, but clearly we will look at any opportunities that come available and try to fit that...”
“We're always going to do what's in the best interest of our shareholders and we think right now the strategy that we've laid out, the really strong contracts that we have, and the projects in front of us make us an execution story that will deliver for our shareholders simply by executing on our strategy.”
Equitrans Midstream CEO Thomas Karam joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to discuss the new U.S. debt ceiling deal, ongoingΒ ...
Nov.13 -- Thomas Karam, chief executive officer at Equitrans Midstream Corporation, discusses the spinoff from EQT Corp., hisΒ ...
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