Mountain Valley Pipeline Up and Running!

The Mountain Valley Pipeline is complete! After overcoming relentless legal challenges from environmental groups, natural gas is moving through the pipeline. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates the construction of interstate pipelines, approved the project on June 11, 2024, and the natural gas is now flowing.
MVP has signed long-term agreements with multiple shippers for the full capacity of the pipeline for at least 20 years from the in-service date. MVP will enable its shippers to access markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast United States.
The Bighorn Public Affairs Group played a key role in securing federal permits -- from both Republican and Democrat Administrations -- and passing legislation to complete the stalled pipeline, highlighting its importance as a crucial energy infrastructure project for the southeastern U.S. that will create jobs, provide energy reliability, and lower energy costs for homes and businesses.
MVP

More than 300,000 miles of interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines operate every day across the U.S., safely and reliably transporting natural gas for use in homes and businesses to provide electricity for modern life. None of these existing pipelines have undergone the extensive level of environmental research, analysis and review that has been performed on the MVP project.

10/23/2015
06/23/2017
Feb, 2018
2019
2022
Spring 2023
06/03/2023
July 2023
June 11, 2024

Application

Mountain Valley submits a formal application to the FERC to construct, own, and operate the MVP.

FEIS Released

FERC releases the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), confirming minimal environmental impacts with recommended mitigation measures.

Construction Begins

Construction begins, securing all necessary permits. Despite ongoing litigation from industry opponents causing delays, construction progresses.

Bighorn Public Affairs

Bighorn was engaged to assist in the reassessment of federal permits following court proceedings and began its advocacy for the MVP in Congress and the Administration.

Advocates for the MVP

Bighorn advocates for the MVP in Congress, leading the lobbying effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill to end lawsuits and complete MVP construction.

Project Stalled

Approximately 94% of the MVP project is complete. Project cost doubled due to continuous legal proceedings and the target date uncertain.

Legislation Signed

The U.S. President signs legislation supporting the continuation of the MVP by maintaining necessary permits and authorizations.

Construction Resumes

Construction resumes, aiming for safe completion and operational status to enhance energy reliability and affordability.

Complete

FERC approves Mountain Valley Pipeline Completion and gives the green light for the flow of LNG.

Is your permit application languishing in a federal agency? Is your company or industry under attack from government regulations? Has your Congressional delegation introduced a bill to help, but it sits in Committee with no action?

Bighorn can help.

Bighorn Public Affairs played a critical role in getting the June 2023 legislation passed to allow the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The pipeline has many benefits, including:

  • Economic growth
    The MVP created over 5,500 construction jobs, $125 million to WV and VA landowners in right-of-way payments, and $131 million in tax revenues to Virginia and West Virginia.  In addition, $45 million will be paid in annual tax revenue to counties along the route once operational.
  • Energy stability
    The MVP will have a delivery capacity of 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, allowing Equitrans Midstream to deliver natural gas to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States regions.
  • Energy security and reliability
    By strengthening natural gas access in the region, the MVP will provide critical natural gas to homes across the South Atlantic and bring a wave of industrial expansion. For example, Roanoke Gas Company will tap the MVP to augment supplies for the greater Roanoke region — and none too soon. “We were out of gas literally,” said Paul Nester, President and CEO of RGC Resources, the parent company of Roanoke Gas.
WCBC Radio

Mountain Valley Pipeline Up and Running

After 10 years of planning and navigating numerous delays and environmental protests the Mountain Valley Pipeline began operations Friday, transporting natural gas from northern West Virginia southeast to eastern markets.  The pipeline gained final approval to operate earlier this week from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

According to the company, the project is a natural gas pipeline system that spans about 300 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia and is expected to provide up to 2 billion cubic feet per day of firm transmission capcity to markets in the mid- and south Atlantic regions of the United States.

The Roanoke Times

Officials: MVP gas could fuel industrial expansion in Franklin County, region

Installation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline inflicted environmental costs on forests and streams but, with the pipeline almost ready to carry gas, a utility CEO and an economic development official predict it will generate economic gains as well.

By bolstering natural gas access in the region, the MVP creates conditions that could catalyze a wave of industrial expansion, according to officials.Read Full Article

Danville Register & Bee

Roanoke Gas is nearing completion to receive natural gas from the Mountain Valley Pipeline

Fox News

House Republicans, not Joe Manchin, led charge to secure major gas pipeline in debt ceiling deal: sources

House Republicans were ultimately responsible for a provision fast-tracking a major natural gas pipeline in the debt ceiling package announced over the weekend, sources told Fox News Digital.

After text of the legislation was published Sunday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was immediately credited with ensuring the provision green-lighting all outstanding federal environmental permits for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project was included. In a statement, Manchin said he was "proud to have fought for this critical project and to have secured the bipartisan support necessary to get it across the finish line."

Read Full Article

WFXR Fox News

MVP restoration work to begin in National Forest

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The USDA Forest Service announced the Mountain
Valley Pipeline (MVP) project has entered the restoration phase. The pipeline is about 303.5 miles long and crosses into 3.5 miles of the Jefferson National Forest. Park officials say the next phase will recover the landscape from construction activities to meet the scenic integrity objectives of the forest plan. “We’ll be working with our third-party contractor and collaborative partners to ensure this project ends successfully with native plants, shrubs, and trees along the right of way and restored views across the landscape,” said Forest Supervisor Joby Timm.

The restoration project will include the following:
- Construction debris removal 
- Stabilization of construction areas with successful revegetation, and permanent drainage restored 
- Scenic integrity objectives are met within five growing seasons 
- Continued monitoring to ensure successful restoration

The park says the restoration process will culminate in the planting of native trees,
shrubs, and pollinator species along the right of way. Once revegetation is
complete, the work is designed to meet the forest management plan.

Politico

FERC gives green light to start up Mountain Valley Pipeline

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted approval on Tuesday to Equitrans Midstream Corp. to start operations at its Mountain Valley Pipeline, the final hurdle for the controversial natural gas project that had draw sharp opposition from environmental activists.

The commission’s director of the office of energy projects, Terry Turpin, delivered the green light to the company in a letter Tuesday, stating the pipeline is in compliance with all necessary safety and environmental regulations.

The approval marks the end of a lengthy regulatory and legal battle over the pipeline that dates back to its first FERC application in 2015. Final work on the pipeline that will ship natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia into Virginia commenced after Sen. Joe Manchin (I- W.Va.) included its approval in the 2022 debt ceiling deal.

Read Full Article

Contact Bighorn for help with the federal government.