(WFXR)– The future of the multi-billion dollar Mountain Valley Pipeline project remains unclear after the permit was taken out of the “Continuing Resolution, that was just passed to keep the budget funded through the middle of December.

This was at the request of West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin — who you made the deal to get it in there in the first place.

The big question now is, what is next for the multi-billion-dollar project that has supporters ready to fight for its completion and those against it willing to do anything to put a stop to it?

Already it has been four years since the projected completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, and while its future is uncertain developers say they aren’t giving up.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the project says it has a plan.

While we are disappointed that the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 will not receive a vote at this time, MVP’s path to completion has not changed. We have been working and will continue to work with relevant agencies for the reissuance of MVP’s previously issued Biological Opinion and permit to cross the Jefferson National Forest, as well as the issuance of the project’s 404 Permit related to waterbody/wetland crossings. 

Mountain Valley Pipeline


However, for those in opposition to the project, enough is enough.

“We see a project that is very troubled and has been very disruptive to communities and water resources to Virginia and West Virginia,” said Jessica Sims, Appalachian Voices Staffer.

Sims adds the project is in hot water, as it’s still tied up in litigation, missing certain federal authorizations, and not as nearly complete as it claims.

Including its recent roadblock after Senator Manchin pulled the project from the “Continuing Resolution.”

“Including it in that bill helped expand the national conversation on how harmful MVP is to the communities of West Virginia and Virginia. How destructive it has been to water resources. How destructive it’ll be to climate admissions if operational,” said Sims.


However, MVP says is proud of the efforts made to move the project forward.

We applaud the efforts of Senators Manchin and Capito who understand and have been working to address, the permitting issues that are hindering America’s energy progress and diminishing our ability to execute a timely transition to clean energy. The need for comprehensive permitting reform is just as important for the continued development of renewables as it is for the ongoing development of fossil fuels and related infrastructure projects, and we expect to engage with Senators Manchin and Capito as they work to identify a potential alternative legislative solution in the near-term.

For the past several months, it is clear that MVP is being recognized as a critical infrastructure project that is essential for our nation’s energy security, energy reliability, and ability to effectively transition to a lower-carbon future. Once in service, MVP will deliver 2 Bcf/day of natural gas to the center of the mid-Atlantic market, at a time when domestic energy production remains a key national security issue. MVP’s capacity will help to meet the growing demand of the southeast market by providing reliable, affordable energy and, importantly, will deliver supply diversity to facilitate exports by acting as backfill for the overall domestic supply that is needed to support the incremental growth in LNG exports. With total project work roughly 94% complete, we remain committed to working diligently with federal and state regulators to secure the necessary permits to safely and responsibly finish construction, and we remain committed to bringing the pipeline into service in the second half of 2023.