(TheRedWire.com) – The debt ceiling package agreed on by House Republicans and President Biden was announced on Sunday and it includes a provision fast-tracking a 303-mile West Virginia-to-Virginia natural gas pipeline project.
The unexpected approval of the billion-dollar Mountain Valley Pipeline, which is currently 94 percent completed but has been halted by the lengthy permitting process for years, was something that West Virginia lawmakers praised, as they have for years claimed that this project would help bring important economic benefits to the state. The pipeline is going to create 2,500 construction jobs, generate $40 million in new tax revenue for West Virginia and $10 million in Virginia, and up to $250 million in royalties for West Virginia landowners.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released in a statement that she had collaborated with Speaker McCarthy in order to help ensure the completion of the project which will help improve energy production and provide American jobs. She added that he was “thrilled” to see the approval for this project be a part of a debt ceiling package that would help the nation avoid defaulting.
She added that despite the lengthy delays they had continued to fight for the pipeline and that this recent victory was important for West Virginia.
Capito’s spokesperson has stated that the senator had directly spoken with McCarthy about the importance of the pipeline’s approval and that the West Virginia congressional delegation had pushed to have the agreement be part of the debt ceiling package.
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