By: Owen Kidd
The Mountain Valley Pipeline is a project deemed essential for our nation’s energy security, energy reliability, and ability to transition to a lower-carbon emission future by helping keep energy prices affordable.
“The Mountain Valley Pipeline is needed to meet current and projected energy demands in homes and businesses across the Roanoke Valley and along the Eastern Seaboard,” said Jennifer Harris, spokesperson for the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
This project is a natural gas pipeline system that will span approximately 303 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia. It will be regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an interstate pipeline.
Since natural gas will be coming from Marcellus and Utica shale production, the Mountain Valley Pipeline claims that it will provide up to two million dekatherms per day of firm transmission capacity to markets in the Mid- and South-Atlantic regions of the United States.
The pipeline will be governed by the United States Natural Gas Act, which will require a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity from the FERC.
As it stands, the pipeline is nearly 94% complete, with just an estimated 20 miles of pipe still to be laid, said Harris. This includes 55.8% of the right-of-way fully restored.
“Mountain Valley Pipeline takes tremendous precautions to ensure the long-term safety of our pipelines and once the pipeline is operational, we will utilize sophisticated technology to monitor it,” said Robert McNabb, the Leading Safety Inspector at Mountain Valley Pipeline.
According to the US Department of Transportation and McNabb, data shows that pipelines are the safest mode of energy transportation. The most recent numbers available show that 99.999997% of gas and crude oil is moved safely through interstate transmission pipelines.
“The Mountain Valley Pipeline is dedicated to the safety of its communities, employees, and contractors, and to the preservation and protection of the environment,” said Harris.
In one study, The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta found that pipelines reduced GHG emissions by anywhere between 61% and 77% versus railroad for transporting gas long distances.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline can be beneficial to the local residents in many ways. The pipeline will ensure energy security, and energy reliability, and allows us to transition to a lower carbon emission future, said McNabb. This will all be accomplished through the safest mode of transportation of energy that is statistically backed by reliable evidence.
The natural gas pipeline will be used to power plenty of everyday objects for residents in the New River Valley and beyond. For example, natural gas is used to heat buildings and water, operate refrigeration and cooling equipment, cook, dry clothes, and many other benefits.
This is why the Mountain Valley Pipeline is highly regarded as beneficial for the community as it will help ensure that residents have energy security and stability in the future from the most reliable source to date. Harris also noted that construction of the pipeline is expected to generate additional state and local tax revenue of approximately $49 million in Virginia. All of which are reasons to welcome the pipeline project.
