The company wrote that the 303-mile project will be mechanically complete by May 22 and seeks FERC’s approval by May 23.
The builders of the Mountain Valley Pipeline are seeking federal approval to begin operations within weeks.
MVP has sought approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin operations in late May.
The company wrote that the 303-mile project will be mechanically complete by May 22 and seeks FERC’s approval by May 23.
It says its customers with long-term contracts for natural gas from the pipeline become effective on June 1.
The $7.5 billion pipeline has been delayed and cost more than projected as environmental groups and landowners challenged the project in court.
The MVP is under a consent decree with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration over a corrosion-resistant coating that may have degraded while large sections of pipe were exposed to weather during the delays.
That’s after groups challenged the safety of the exposed pipe. The company agreed to take corrective measures to eliminate any safety risk.
Various legal challenges to the pipeline’s construction ended last year when Congress passed, and President Joe Biden signed, a spending agreement that approved all remaining permits.
While some opponents continue to press forward, it appears they have few options remaining before the pipeline goes into service.
The MVP has a capacity of two billion cubic feet of gas a day. It will connect north-central West Virginia with southern Virginia and open up West Virginia gas production to new markets in the mid-Atlantic.
To hear what impact the decision has on U.S. LNG exports, Curtis Tate spoke with Sam Reynolds and Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
A recent decision by the Biden administration to suspend permitting for new export terminals for liquefied natural gas has drawn criticism from West Virginia lawmakers.
To hear what impact the decision has on U.S. LNG exports, Curtis Tate spoke with Sam Reynolds and Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, an organization that favors a faster transition away from fossil fuels.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Tate: What does the pause on permitting for new LNG export terminals really mean?
Reynolds: Just for perspective, the U.S. is currently the largest global LNG exporter worldwide, we export about 86 million tons of liquefied natural gas a year. That’s more than Qatar and Australia, which are the next two largest. The U.S. currently has five projects under construction to export more LNG that would nearly double that amount over the remainder of the decade. Now, the U.S. pause on permitting, does not affect any of the existing or under construction projects. So that’s really important for consumers around the world to know that the U.S. is still on pace to nearly double its export capacity, and it’s already the largest worldwide.
Right now, in Asia, the U.S.’s largest customers are Japan and South Korea, and a lot of these new export facilities in the U.S. are justified under the impression that our customers need more of this LNG. In fact, if you look at these two largest buyers, Japan and South Korea, both are reducing their natural gas and LNG demand, and actually quite dramatically. So in Japan, LNG exports peaked in 2014 and have declined ever since. And they actually fell 8 percent last year, which is more than double the rate of decline in previous years. Japan is upping its nuclear and renewables capacity, and actually doesn’t want any more of this very expensive fuel, that is LNG. It’s opting for cheaper resources. and South Korea is very similar. LNG demand fell 4 percent last year, as it brings on cheaper energy sources like renewables and nuclear.
Tate: What about Europe? Didn’t Putin’s invasion of Ukraine cause European countries to become more reliant on U.S. LNG?
Jaller-Makarewicz: So while the U.S. was thinking, ‘Oh, Europe is in a big crisis, and we really need to step in to supply all the LNG that they need,’ at the same time Europe was working on their strategies to reduce gas demand. So what we see today, at the beginning of 2024, is a different reality than at the beginning of 2022. So what we have been saying in Europe, and I think that’s also the concern for the U.S. is that we need to analyze today’s conditions. For example, the gas demand in Europe reduced 20 percent In the last two years. Nobody could expect that. We could agree in certain instances, there’s some part of gas demand destruction. Part of it. But a great majority of it has been implementation of energy efficiency measures on gas demand management, on renewables. The mentality in Europe has changed now.
Tate: Can countries turn to other sources for LNG?
Reynolds: The growth, if you look at the growth markets for LNG demand, where is demand actually increasing? And the largest sources of growth for this product are in South Asia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore. Now, these are much more price sensitive countries, they don’t have the same amount of wealth that Europe, Japan and South Korea have to spend on this relatively expensive product that is U.S. LNG.
And in fact, our main competitors for supplying these markets are Qatar and Australia, which are much cheaper sources of supply to this region. So they’re going to be making an economic decision about where to buy LNG. And actually, since the pause, we’ve seen a spate of deals announced with Qatar to buy more of their LNG. So it’s not necessarily that these countries are turning away from the U.S. specifically, because of the Biden pause. But there is an economic calculation to be made. Qatari LNG can often come in five to six times cheaper than U.S. LNG, which has to be shipped all the way around the world.
Jaller-Makarewicz: So I want to add something here. When the crisis started in Europe, Europe realized the dangers of depending so much on one supplier. That was the main problem that Europe was facing. So I don’t think they’re going to allow the same thing to happen. They are saying we need diversification of sources. So there will be up to a point where they will say that’s it. We need to diversify. We cannot accept more U.S. LNG, because we need to have more sources supplying the gas and LNG to Europe. So that also comes into play. Europe is under a lot of pressure for not repeating the mistakes of the past.
Tate: Has the Russia-Ukraine war accelerated the adoption of renewables and energy efficiency in Europe?
Jaller-Makarewicz: I can say that. And for example, in energy efficiency, before we were not talking about that topic, and suddenly, look, in September of 2022, I was in Madrid for an event. And it was hot. And they had a law that they couldn’t have the air conditioners, they had to have them up to a certain level, because they didn’t want to use more energy. We also got lots of talk here, the thermostats in the winter would have just one degree less, so they started to think about us as consumers, we could also do something to reduce it with our consumption. And it was not talked about like that before. Now it was decided, we need to speed up the renewables, we need to reduce all the problems with the bureaucracy and all that to allow those tax breaks to come into operation. So they accelerated that. I can say that they accelerated that.
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin talks to NPR’s Michel Martin about Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, and his decisions against another run for the Senate or a new bid for president.
At 76, West Virginia senator Joe Manchin waves off the concerns of some of his colleagues about a candidate’s age and how it might affect their ability to carry out the responsibilities of office.
“I don’t look at age,” the democratic senator told NPR’s Michel Martin. “I look at [candidates] person by person. And with Joe Biden, every time I’ve been with him, we’ve talked, I’ve had no problem whatsoever”.
He is, however, reluctant to back the President in the 2024 election.
“I’m hoping that the Joe Biden that I know, the Joe Biden that I’ve known for a long time will come back,” Manchin told Morning Edition.
As a self described “conservative Democrat,” Manchin has frequently played spoiler to some of Biden’s key legislative initiatives – in 2021 he refused to support the Biden administration’s Build Back Better bill, even after the White House made multiple concessions in an effort to assuage his concerns. He similarly withheld his vote from Biden’s federal voting rights, climate-change agendas and tax reform policies by refusing to join with fellow Democrats in an evenly divided Senate.
“I can tell you it’s difficult being in the middle,” Manchin said. “…A 50/50 Senate, it’s not an enviable place to be at all.”
Last week, the senator announced that he won’t be running for the presidency in 2024 after flirting with a third party bid for months. During his announcement, he declined to endorse Biden or any other candidate, although he did offer praise to Trump’s lone GOP rival, the former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
“I think Nikki is spot on,” Manchin said, regarding Haley’s remarks critical of Trump in a speech on Tuesday.
Senator Manchin joined Michel Martin days after announcing his own decision not to seek the presidential nomination in 2024. He spoke of his legacy after 15 years in elective office, and his hesitancy to endorse another 2024 presidential hopeful – at least for now. Below are some of the highlights from that interview.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
On why he isn’t planning to run for president
It’s hard with the Democratic Party and Republican parties being the businesses that they are in Washington today, and I mean businesses, these are big billion dollar businesses that have picked their product.and pretty much have gone in the direction of choosing who they think that would be their strongest product, if you will. And that’s what they’re going to go with. And I, I just don’t fit in the Democrats process and they are doing things or the Republican process. I’ve always been independent minded.
And so I thought about that. And I’ve been with the No Labels Group since 2010, because I think they’re a wonderful group. They are trying to always give an opportunity for that middle minded person to have a venue. I’ve appreciated that they’ve been working and moving towards putting a unity ticket together. I think that it’s trying to give an option, which is good. I just believe right now this timing wasn’t right for me and I didn’t want to be a spoiler.
On why he won’t support President Biden
I think President Biden and his team have to look around them and ask, how did he win in 2020? Look at the rhetoric that was used back then. It’s not extreme. Everything that was said and everything he showed people was what he’d done through his experience being in the Senate and then being vice president. And [voters] said, “Yeah, this man is more moderate than most, he’s easy to work with. He looks at the facts and makes decisions.”That’s what he had been known for. And now I think people believe that he has gone too far to the left.
I think [we should be] putting ourselves back in a moderate, centrist position where people feel comfortable – they don’t think they’re being pushed and being overregulated. They don’t think that you have the finger or your thumb on the scale and are moving things too far to the left.
I think about how we deal with how we deal with crime in this country, how we deal with the border, how we deal with the fiscal responsibilities that we have. I think that no one’s taking the debt of this nation as seriously as they should. I think the greatest challenge that we have is getting our finances under control. And that means you just can’t spend like a drunken sailor.
[Biden’s team] keeps playing to the base versus where the voters are going to be. This next election will be decided by moderate, centrist, independent voters. They’re not talking to them.
On why he won’t support former President Donald Trump
I have said there’s no way I could support or vote for Donald Trump. I think it would be very detrimental to our country, and to our world standing. We have enough things in upheaval.
I just thought it was horrendous when a former president could not have condolences to a family that lost a 47 year old husband, a father and a son in a country that basically just eliminates their opposition. And when former President Trump couldn’t even say ‘my heart goes out to the Navalny family’ It’s wrong. There’s nothing right about this. But he keeps very silent and doesn’t say a word. It seems like he kind of admires the people that operate and govern that way, such as Putin. It scares the bejesus out of me.
I would consider anyone that truly puts their country before themselves and wants to bring people together. But you when you start denigrating and villainizing other people. And when hatred and revenge is going to be basically your mode of operation. That’s not right. There’s nothing normal about that.
On the legacy of his last term in Congress
It’s a shame to go out and the 118th Congress will go down as absolutely the least productive Congress in the history of the United States of America. That’s a sad scenario. Only 39 bills have been passed so far. We usually pass an average of about 523 bills every two years.
The 117th Congress was one of the most productive and one of the most monumental 118th will be the worst. And that’s a shame.
I have been very adamantly supportive of trying to give every American a chance to have a quality of life, no matter what the race to matter what their religion, no matter what their sexual preferences. But when you try to normalize, those are on the extremes which might be on a different path or taking in life, that makes it hard. When [the government] tries to push that into the mainstream, people reject it. And that’s not the government’s role. And I’ve said this all my life. I never have believed the government would be my provider. Government was my partner, whether it be local, municipalities, local, county, local and a state government. They were not my provider, nor did I expect them to be. But I hope [government] had the compassion and the moral values of helping those who couldn’t help themselves. That’s basically who I am and what I’ve always tried to do and what I always will do.
The audio version of this interview was produced by Kaity Kline and edited by Mohamad ElBardicy. The digital version was edited by Jacob Conard
The Senate passed 11 bills today and sent them to the House of Delegates for consideration. The Senate also advanced more than 20 other bills, seven of which are House bills. There was also emotional debate around a resolution.
The Senate passed 11 bills today and sent them to the House of Delegates for consideration. The Senate also advanced more than 20 other bills, seven of which are House bills. There was also emotional debate around a resolution.
Senate Resolution 42
Senate resolutions are a form of legislation on things like rules for the legislature, or to express sentiments. They can be a symbolic way of issuing support, which was the case for today’s Senate resolution.
Senate Resolution 42 supports Texas Governor Greg Abbott in using every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the southern border.
The resolution also calls out President Joe Biden and chides him for a so-called refusal to secure the border.
Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, is the lead sponsor of the resolution. He said he visited the border and saw the challenges the state of Texas is facing.
“As best we can tell, I’d say as best we can tell because we don’t know the numbers,” Stuart said. “At least eight million illegals have crossed across that border, who’s coming across that border.”
Stuart said that terrorists, human traffickers, child predators, and violent criminals are crossing the border everyday.
“We also know there are a lot of really good people coming across that border, looking for a better life. Texas governor Abbott is trying to provide some defense of that border, not only on behalf of Texas, but on behalf of all states, including West Virginia,” Stuart said.
Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, was the only no vote on the resolution.
“That was a wonderful campaign speech,” Caputo said. “That’s what I think this resolution is all about. I want to begin by saying I certainly support a secure border.”
Stuart is running for Attorney General in the upcoming election. Caputo expressed concern for some of the measures supported in the resolution.
“We’re going to support utilizing every tool, including razor wire fences for innocent children that are being brought here by others?” Caputo said. “We’re going to support using razor wire fences. Have we lost our minds? Have we lost our minds? There’s no one of us in this chamber that doesn’t care about children. Razor wire fences!? It’s insane! I might be the only no vote up there. And I’m not ashamed of that. I’m not one bit ashamed of that. Because I’ll feel good about my vote. And I’ll feel good about my career here. I don’t feel good about the direction we’re going as president.”
Caputo is not running for re-election.
Senate Bill 375
A notable bill today was Senate Bill 375. The bill affects non insurance health plans known as Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM).
In HCSMs, members pay into a pool of money that is available upon approval if one of the members needs medical care. Members typically submit the bill for their health care to the organization, and if approved the care is paid for.
Organizations like this were prevalent among Amish and Mennonite communities for decades but have recently risen to mainstream popularity following the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Members of these organizations are exempt from the tax penalty originally required in the law.
They are not for profit organizations and are exempt from the regulations and oversight that insurance companies adhere to. That has raised concerns about consumer protection and solvency of the organizations.
Senate Bill 375 confirms the state insurance commissioner’s practice of not participating in the regulation of these programs.
The bill also requires the HCSMs to prepare an annual audit and to provide a written disclaimer notifying members, and potential members, that HCSMs are not an insurance policy and coverage of medical bills are totally voluntary and that members are ultimately personally responsible for the payment of their own medical bills.
Some public colleges and universities have a requirement that students have health care insurance. This bill states that HCSMs also would satisfy this requirement.
Michael Oliverio, R-Monongalia, said this bill will help students whose parents are uninsured.
“With the absence of this legislation, if those students’ parents are participating in a Health Share ministry program,” Oliverio said. “That will not count as insurance, as judged by the higher education institutions and in turn, those students or their parents would have to pay thousands of additional dollars during their college years to meet the health insurance requirement.”
Caputo was the only no vote on the bill as well. He said these programs are not cost effective.
“I’ve done some research on it, Caputo said. “I found that a lot of procedures aren’t even covered. A lot of things have to come out of pocket and be reimbursed and some people may not have the money to pull it out of pocket.”
Adam Ortiz, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator for Region 3, says the EPA has invested half a billion dollars in West Virginia during the Biden presidency.
State and local environmental advocates welcomed a special guest to the Capitol Tuesday for E-Day.
Adam Ortiz, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator for Region 3, which includes West Virginia, came to the Capitol to speak to lawmakers and advocacy groups.
Ortiz says the EPA has invested half a billion dollars in West Virginia during the Biden presidency. That money has gone to improving water and wastewater systems and cleaning up abandoned coal mines and industrial sites.
“It’s not just cleaning up the stuff in the past but preparing this infrastructure for the future. So, it’s hard to attract a hotel to a community if you don’t have strong water systems, both drinking water and wastewater. So, we’re partnering with localities partnering with the state because we want to help West Virginia open its next chapter revitalization and you know, cleaning up the old stuff as part of that process.”
Ortiz says West Virginia has the infrastructure and the workforce to support its economic future. He says the EPA’s role is to help the state clean up the legacy pollution of its historical mining and industry.
“So our focus at EPA working with the state is on revitalization, taking a lot of these abandoned mine areas, as well as brownfields. And it wasn’t just coal production here, but also lots of chemicals and companies that are long gone. And often these sites, these properties are right in the middle of, you know, great old towns and cities, they’re connected to the water, they’re connected to the rail. So our job is to help the state clean them up and get them back online economically.”
Ortiz also praised the young people who came to the Capitol to speak out on environmental issues and share their ideas with lawmakers.
“So we’re really cheering on the young people, the universities and the schools for their environmental programs, because they’re going to have the baton before too long.”
Last month, the U.S. Energy Department said it would stop considering new applications for liquefied natural gas export terminals to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has a bill that would undo the Biden administration’s pause on approving new export terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Last month, the U.S. Energy Department said it would stop considering new applications for LNG export terminals to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement.
Capito opposes the policy but said it would be difficult to get her bill past the Democrats in the Senate, as well as President Joe Biden.
“So we’ll keep pushing the legislation, but the realities are as much as I’d like to see it, as a political reality, it would be very tough,” she said.
An Energy Department official testified in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday that LNG exports to U.S. allies would continue and already permitted export terminals would still get built.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., the chairman of the energy committee, wants the Biden administration to reverse the pause on new approvals.
The Energy Department projects that even with the pause, U.S. LNG exports will double by 2030.
According to a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis Thursday, LNG demand is projected to decline in Europe and Asia.
Instead, the report said, the biggest buyers of additional LNG exports will be oil and gas companies and commodities traders.
