Pipelines Should Not Be Part Of Virginia’s Energy Future
With only portions that cross water bodies needing to be constructed, the natural gas-transporting Mountain Valley Pipeline is nearing completion.
The cost of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is expected to reach an enormous $6.2 billion. The pipeline is also vocally opposed by marginalized communities, and will deliver energy that’s more expensive than energy generated by renewables.
To deliver on his promise to help Virginia ratepayers save money, governor-elect Youngkin should oppose the Mountain Valley Pipeline and all other pipeline proposals.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline is now permitted to cross about 150 streams and wetlands in Southwest Virginia, following approval by the State Water Control Board last month. In transporting 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, the Mountain Valley Pipeline will stretch from northern West Virginia to western Virginia when completed. With 94% of the pipeline already constructed, the approval brings the 303-mile pipeline closer to completion — at this point, only water body crossings need to be built.
The State Water Control Board’s decision to allow construction of the pipeline was a step in the wrong direction for Virginia’s energy future. Bringing copious amounts of natural gas into Virginia each day runs counter to the state’s goal of achieving a carbon-free electric grid by 2050. Additionally, natural gas pipelines are costly (not only economically, but also environmentally), strongly opposed by the communities they disproportionately impact, and deliver energy that’s more expensive than renewable energy.
Having promised to take action to save ratepayers money, governor-elect Glenn Youngkin should put a stop to the Mountain Valley Pipeline in order to provide Virginians with energy that is cheaper and cleaner.
Initially, the Mountain Valley Pipeline was expected to cost $3.7 billion and to be completed in 2018. Now, however, the expected completion date has been pushed back to the summer of 2022, and the price tag of the project has ballooned to an astonishing $6.2 billion. The cost of construction isn’t the only thing that’s going to be expensive about the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The cost to ship natural gas on the completed pipeline is expected to be nearly double the rate estimated at the project proposal, according to S&P Global. And because the Mountain Valley Pipeline has consistently violated environmental regulations, the project has been hit with lawsuits resulting in costly settlements.
Pipelines are frequently considered to perpetrate environmental racism — the Mountain Valley Pipeline is no exception. Currently, there are plans to place a compressor station, which helps to maintain the flow of gas through pipelines, in a predominantly Black jurisdiction within Virginia’s Pittsylvania County. This is considered an example of environmental racism because compressor stations are known to emit carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other harmful pollutants. Members of the community have joined the local NAACP branch in opposing approval of this stage of the pipeline.
Finally, the Mountain Valley Pipeline should be cancelled because there are simply cheaper, cleaner sources of energy than natural gas. As the New York Times has noted, solar power can provide energy to 650 homes for an hour at a rate of $31 to $111. Natural gas, on the other hand, powers the same number of homes in the same amount of time at a rate of $122 to $162. Aside from being the cheaper option, renewable energy sources like solar don’t emit carbon, which can be harmful to human health.
With tremendous costs, charges of environmental racism, and a cheaper alternative that will help Virginia achieve its carbon-free electric grid, there are no good reasons to complete any pipeline. Glenn Youngkin should deliver on his promise to help Virginia ratepayers save money by opposing completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline and all other proposed pipelines.