Published: June 1, 2023 |

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Mountain State residents don’t have to worry whether they’ve got people working on their behalf in Washington, D.C. The negotiations leading up to a compromise Fiscal Responsibility Act are proof. Because of the work done by senators and representative, permitting reform language and other measures to speed up the Mountain Valley Pipeline are part of that compromise.

“We are grateful for the full support of the White House, as well as the strong leadership of Democratic and Republican legislators for recognizing the Mountain Valley Pipeline as a critical energy infrastructure project,” said Natalie A. Cox, a spokesperson for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project.

“There is not another pipeline or another project in the United States of America that could bring that much energy, 2 billion cubic feet a day, into the marketplace within a six-month period of time if it was completed,” U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said.

The compromise include provisions from Manchin’s permitting reform package, which was yanked last fall.

“The last time I talked with (House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.) was late Saturday as they were inking the deal to make sure it was included, but he wanted to make sure that I knew that he was aware of how much I cared about it. It was a total team effort. Everyone was talking to as many people as we possibly could,” said U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

A team effort, indeed. U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., said she was the first person McCarthy called about the debt ceiling negotiations.

“I’ve been working on this for months. It’s very, very important to West Virginia. It’s important to Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, the Carolinas. It’s ridiculous how long this has been held up,” Miller said.

Cox emphasized just how much went into supporting the 304-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline, which is meant to transport natural gas from Wetzel County, connecting it to the Transco Pipeline in Pittsylvania County, Va.

“In particular, it was the leadership and unwavering commitment of Chairman Manchin who first recognized the importance of MVP to our nation’s energy security and spearheaded the development of broad, bipartisan support for the completion of MVP,” Cox said.

We don’t always get such clear evidence there are people inside the beltway working for us, but it is encouraging. Now, let’s see what else they can get done.

Source: The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is a proposed underground, interstate natural gas pipeline system that spans approximately 303 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia. Subject to approval and regulatory oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the MVP will be constructed and owned by Mountain Valley Pipeline — a joint venture of Equitrans Midstream Corporation; NextEra Capital Holdings; Con Edison Transmission; WGL Sustainable Energy; and RGC Midstream. The MVP was designed to transport clean-burning natural gas from the prolific Marcellus and Utica shale regions to the growing demand markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast areas of the United States. Equitrans Midstream, primary interest owner, will operate the pipeline. From planning and development to construction and in-service operations — MVP is dedicated to the safety of its communities, employees, and contractors, and to the preservation and protection of the environment.

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