'This is the most valuable pipeline in America': Sen. Manchin visits Bridgeport, West Virginia, Mountain Valley Pipeline site

After passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is visiting worksites associated with the Mountain Valley Pipeline project throughout the state of West Virginia.

Manchin, who spearheaded the effort to include MVP support in the legislation, said he is eager to see the pipeline up and running so West Virginia can experience an economic boom and an increase in jobs.

On Saturday, Manchin visited Precision Pipeline in Bridgeport and discussed how passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act was a “team effort,” mentioning Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

“You know, we had Carol Miller on the House side and Shelley Moore Capito, my colleague and friend, on the Senate side. It took all of us to bring this together. A year ago, I saw the Ukraine war that was happening, and that Putin was using energy as a weapon, and at that time we didn’t have enough energy for our country, let alone enough to help our allies,” Manchin said.

But there is energy prosperity in the U.S. now, he said.

“As I’m standing here today, in the United States of America we’re producing more gas, more oil and more coal than we have for a long, long time. We are basically energy independent, and we’re going to grow even more independent. We can help our allies now,” Manchin said.

The senator also praised the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Everything has come about because of the IRA, which has been chastised politically,” Manchin said.

“You never hear about that bill being an energy security bill — it’s been touted as an environmental bill. Well, it is that, but it’s most importantly energy security. You can have a cleaner environment if you use your fossil fuels in a cleaner fashion with carbon capture sequestration and methane capture — all things we’re doing. I’ve always said that you can’t eliminate your way to cleaner climate, but you can innovate your way through technology,” Manchin said.

America is now producing about 12.5 million barrels of oil a day, and Manchin said the goal is 13 to 15 million barrels a day. America also is producing 37 trillion cubic feet of natural gas a year.

Manchin called MVP the “Most valuable pipeline in America.”

“This is setting the tone of what needs to be done. It shows people what we can do. Everyone in D.C. knew we needed more energy, but I said, ‘You can produce it all you want, but if you don’t have a way to transport it, it’s not going anywhere.’ The good Lord gave us the resources under our feet to be able to help our colleagues and our friends.”

The Fiscal Responsibility Act was voted on June 2, and Manchin says if Mountain Valley Pipeline would have been removed from the bill, the U.S. would have gone into ‘default’ for the first time in history.

“This piece of legislature is incredibly valuable. Default means this: your bank has called your note, and you can’t pay. If the United States of America were to ever go into default — we should never consider getting close to it — the reserve currency of the world, which is U.S. dollars, would be in jeopardy. We wouldn’t have the clout that we have or the steam that we need to keep the world in order.”

As the pipeline construction opens back up, approximately 2,500 construction jobs will be added in the state, and West Virginia will see $40 million annually in new tax revenue. West Virginia landowners will see an increase of approximately $200 million per year in royalties.

Tom Karam, the CEO of Equitrans Midstream Corporation, one of the largest natural gas gatherers in the country, is delighted for the rebirth of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

“Today is the rebirth of the MVP, and we’re so grateful for everyone who is here, particularly Senator Manchin. We would not be able to be as close as we are starting this project if it were not for the tireless, relentless, and creative political work that the Senator has accomplished for us. It takes a rare breed to bring the Republicans and the Democrats together to pass legislation in support of a single project. Without Senator Manchin, we wouldn’t be able to put these guys back to work.”

While the pipeline is about 94% complete, there is an additional $1.2 billion investment to finish the project, which is estimated to be done at the end of 2023.

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