Local news reported on Thursday that the projected completion date of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) has been pushed back due to ongoing pressure from activists and regulators.
The MVP’s completion date has been pushed back from this year to the beginning of 2024, and the original estimate of $6.6 billion has grown to $7.2 billion, as reported. In a regulatory filing, the pipeline’s future operator, Equitrans, blamed “unforeseen” causes for the setbacks, even though the project has already won in federal court.
Virginia landowners behind the long-shot claim requested an emergency injunction to prevent irreparable injury and block eminent domain from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The landowners sought a construction pause while the court considered their case.
If Mountain Valley is built as planned, opponents warned towns along the line would constantly worry about a leak or explosion. Equitrans stated it prioritized pipeline safety throughout construction and operation.
Equitrans spokeswoman Natalie Cox said that throughout the United States, particularly in rocky and karst areas, over 300 thousand miles of gas conveyance pipes have been constructed and are running securely.
According to an email from Cox last month, pipelines are universally acknowledged as the safest way to transmit the energy required to power contemporary life.
Despite court setbacks, climate activists have targeted the pipeline and its construction to delay its completion.
According to reports, Appalachians Against Pipelines posts videos and pictures of activists trespassing on construction sites and tying themselves to equipment as shields. Dozens blocked MVP construction in Elliston, Virginia.
According to Natalie Cox, an Equitrans spokeswoman, unauthorized individuals are not allowed to access the right-of-way or be inside the marked limits of interference during construction due to strict security protocols. We express strong disapproval of the protesters’ disregard for safeguards and the rules of law. Regardless of their opinion on the project, these illegal and risky actions must stop.
Cox said that, as they have often indicated, the safety of the public throughout the building and running of the MVP project is their top concern.
