Latest Update (6/16/2024)
Well, our regulators failed us. FERC approved the MVP’s request to put their pipeline into “service” on Tuesday the 11th.
Appalachian Voices has a post about the approval: https://appvoices.org/2024/06/11/mvp-in-service/
Latest Update (6/9/2024)
Monday, June 3rd was the one-year anniversary of the so-called “Fiscal Responsibility Act”, which via sec. 324 forced the issuance of the remainder of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s permits and green-lit the project with a promise to have it finished by the end of 2023.
More than a year later, MVP has applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to go operational , but MVP is still unable to complete their pipeline. Their own reports to FERC indicate the project is less than 65% complete to full restoration.
MVP has been doing hydrostatic testing, and it isn’t going well. Recently a huge section of pipeline ruptured due to the high pressure water being pushed through it.
Photo Credit: Grace Terry
As NRDC put it, “Leaks are common, ruptures are not”: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/gillian-giannetti/mountain-valley-ruptures-yet-claims-its-gas-ready
Putting the pipeline into service so early would be extremely dangerous.
Appalachian Voices has been organizing “FERC call-in days”, which are a great opportunity to voice concern about the project, and Appalachian Voices has provided a helpful toolkit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dCQnMkyEim9PZXUtY6u_w7f8CFxb7_Xt5jF3Q4JHnIw/
Loudoun Climate Project remains opposed to this terrible project.
Update (6/5/2023): After 6 tries in Congress MVP got it’s permitting provision in the recent debt ceiling bill, and exemption from legal review. Appalachian Voices has an informative press release on what happened: https://appvoices.org/2023/06/01/fiscal-responsibility-act/
Loudoun Climate Project got involved to support a bill that Tim Kaine introduced that would have removed the MVP provisions. Senator Kaine explained the situation quite well May 31st: https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/-gimme-a-break-sen-kaine-vows-to-strip-pipeline-from-debt-ceiling-deal-178794565765
We are continuing to work w/ our partner organizations across Virginia to stop this project.
Update (4/27/2023): New Developments and disappointing remarks via a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from the U.S. Secretary of Energy. We remain opposed to this terrible project.
More info here: https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/04/25/new-developments-washington-fight-over-mountain-valley-pipeline/
A proposed ‘API Side Deal’ permitting reform bill, bearing the watermark of the American Petroleum Institute, would severely weaken the governmental safeguards in place to prevent community and environmental harm from many types of projects, and threatens to legislate extraordinary measures to complete the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), a pet project of Senator Manchin. This would be an unacceptable sacrifice of the communities and environment of our region.
Loudoun Climate Project opposes these provisions, the ‘American Petroleum Institute Side Deal’, as a separate entity, and/or as part of a larger piece of legislation/must-pass budget bill in September. Congress must oppose this permitting wishlist side deal and completion of MVP as part of the deal.
About the Mountain Valley Pipeline
- It would be a climate disaster: It’s been estimated that the full life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (excluding construction emissions) generated by MVP would be almost 90 million metric tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from 23 average U.S. coal plants or over 19 million passenger vehicles driven every year.
- MVP is already an environmental disaster. MVP has received over 300 water quality violations and over $2.5M in fines. There are allegations of even more violations.
- Serious risks to front lines communities, including landslides, water resource contamination, methane leaks, and increased risk of explosions.
- Missing federal authorizations from: the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers
- The pipeline is still not needed to meet energy demands.
How to help
- Contact Representative Jennifer Wexton, and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and tell them not to accept any deal that removes permitting obstacles for MVP.
- Sign this petition from Appalachain Voices: https://appvoices.org/no-fossil-fuel-permitting-wish-list/
- Sign up for the Loudoun Climate Project mailing list for updates about our work related to MVP.
Recent Press
- EQT Boss Says Mountain Valley Pipeline Will Enable AI Power Boom – Data Center Knowledge
- Mountain Valley Pipeline begins operating, a decade after it was announced – Cardinal News
- A ‘Rights of Nature’ Tribunal Puts the Mountain Valley Pipeline on Trial – Inside Climate News
- Mountain Valley Pipeline goes into service, starts delivering gas in Virginia – Virginia Mercury
- Mountain Valley Pipeline begins operations – WDBJ7
- 50 ‘anomalies’ found on the Mountain Valley Pipeline – WFXR
- Erosion Continues To Concern Mountain Valley Pipeline Neighbors – WV Public Broadcasting
- As MVP nears finish line, some residents call for more scrutiny of pipeline’s safety – WVTF (Richmond NPR)
- Mountain Valley Pipeline concerns continue as it nears completion – WSLS
- Tests of Mountain Valley Pipeline point to more potential problems – Roanoke Times
- Mountain Valley Pipeline asks for more project space as opposition mounts to in-service request – Charleston Gazette
- Pipeline opponents urge federal regulators to go slow as company prepares to put project in service – WDBJ7
- Local, state officials pressure feds over Mountain Valley Pipeline start date – Augusta Free Press
- Sen. Tim Kaine says he still has concerns about Mountain Valley Pipeline – WVTF (Richmond NPR)
- MVP says it hasn’t yet completed construction, pushes in-service date to early June – WVTF (Richmond NPR)
- Virginia officials urge FERC to delay Mountain Valley opening – Energy & Environment News
- Fears grow as Mountain Valley Pipeline nears completion – Roanoke Times
- Watchdog: Feds Should Look At Mountain Valley Pipeline Rupture – WV Public Broadcasting
- Residents Near Mountain Valley Pipeline Say Details Are Scarce – WV Public Broadcasting
- State again cites Mountain Valley Pipeline for environmental violations – Cardinal News
- Virginia lawmakers ask federal government to block MVP operation, citing safety concerns – WVTF (Richmond NPR)
- Federal, State Agencies Quiet About Mountain Valley Pipeline Failure – WV Public Broadcasting
- Mountain Valley Pipeline ruptures with requested in-service date looming this month – Charleston Gazette
- New developments surface from Washington in fight over Mountain Valley Pipeline – WDBJ7
- Granholm’s Mountain Valley pipeline support creates firestorm – Energy & Environment News
- Manchin’s Donors Include Pipeline Giants That Win in His Climate Deal – New York Times
- A victory at whose expense? Climate activists grapple with political compromise – Washington Post
- Manchin provides details on permitting agreement, pathway to complete Mountain Valley Pipeline – WV Metro News
- In Exchange for a Climate Deal, Joe Manchin Demanded a Terrible Price – Rolling Stone
- Mountain Valley Pipeline Shield in Manchin Deal Raises Hackles – Bloomberg Law
- Federal climate deal could force completion of Mountain Valley Pipeline – Virginia Mercury
- People Fighting for a Livable Planet Don’t Owe Joe Manchin One Single Thing – Bill McKibben
- Sen. Joe Manchin’s maneuvers for Mountain Valley Pipeline not necessarily certain to succeed – Roanoke Times
- Meet the West Virginians in the path of this massive natural gas pipeline – Mountain State Spotlight
- ‘We Will Vote This Dirty Deal Down,’ Tlaib Says of Manchin’s Oil-Friendly Side Agreement – Common Dreams
- Activists continue fight against Mountain Valley Pipeline – VPM
- Behind the climate bill: the high price of Manchin’s pipeline deal in Appalachia – Oil and Gas Watch
- As MVP construction extended, concerns about pipe’s integrity grow – Roanoke Times
- Here’s What’s Wrong With Manchin’s Side Deal to the Inflation Reduction Act – The Nation
- Groups Warn Pelosi, Schumer Against Allowing Manchin ‘Dirty Deal’ in Pentagon Spending Bill – Common Dreams
- Democrats try to salvage Manchin’s side deal on energy projects – Washington Post
- Converging on White House, Progressives Tell Biden to Cancel Mountain Valley Pipeline – Common Dreams
- The debt ceiling deal bulldozes a controversial pipeline’s path through the courts – NPR
Other orgs that are doing great work to stop the MVP
POWHR Coalition: powhr.org
Appalachian Voices: appvoices.org
Wild Virginia: wildvirginia.org
Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN): chesapeakeclimate.org
ARTivism Virginia: https://www.facebook.com/ArtivismVirginia