We are best known for our vast network of pipelines and energy assets in 41 states. But we also manage approximately 675,000 acres of land throughout parts of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Virginia as part of our Natural Resources Operations which are managed by Penn Virginia Operating Co., LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer. These operations include retailing timber, managing royalties from oil, natural gas and other minerals, and leasing land for farming and industrial uses.
Our Natural Resources Operations bring tax revenue and jobs to areas that have been slow to recover from the post-mining boom. That includes approximately 3,500 acres of commercial farming for corn and soybeans, and approximately 1,200 acres dedicated to raising cattle.
“We’re proud to be one of the largest landowners in West Virginia, with operations that provide significant tax revenue to the state” said Kelcy Warren, Executive Chairman of Energy Transfer. “We recognize the responsibility that comes with our responsible operating our Natural Resources Operations across four states and we are committed to managing them in a manner that preserves and restores the natural beauty of the area.”
Conservation and Partnerships
Conservation is an important aspect of our land management. We employ certified Foresters who manage forestry projects, monitor tree growth and supervise timber operations on our approximately 249,000 acres of forestland throughout Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. We require all timber operations to maintain a sustainable yield so that harvesting does not exceed the growth rate of the forest.
Over the years, we have collaborated with many organizations that have used the land for an array of initiatives including collegiate research and National Guard training, as well as recreational opportunities including sporting clay shoots, and hunting leases. We also work with state and local governments on industrial planning to encourage new business development that will create new jobs and support economic growth.
For more than 30 years, we’ve maintained a conservation co-op with Virginia Tech University to study revegetation of tree and plant species on reclaimed coal land as part of the 1,000-acre Powell River Project. This project has helped shape revegetation strategies and reclamation regulations set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Lavender Farming on Post-Mining Land
One of our leases in West Virginia has an exceptional story: the Appalachian Botanical Company. Founded by Jocelyn Sheppard in 2018, the company grows lavender and raises bees on reclaimed coal land, and then turns its harvests into essential oils, body creams, and other wellness products. Her goal is twofold: To provide a viable and economically sustainable path to rehabilitate mining land and to create dignified and above-minimum-wage job opportunities for individuals with barriers to traditional employment.
Lavender is a hardy plant that thrives in the rocky soil typically found on reclaimed coal mine sites. It is drought and pest resistant and requires very little fertilizer. Remediation and testing performed by the mining company ensures that the water and soil on the site are clear of contaminants.
The Appalachian Botanical Company currently cultivates 75 acres and has plans to expand. It provides a welcomed opportunity for employment in an area that has seen the loss of many jobs in the coal industry over the last decade. Sheppard’s vision is long-term, hoping to make a difference in the community and become the largest commercial-scale supplier of lavender in the U.S.
