Biden concedes victory to Manchin as vulnerable Democrat slams president’s green agenda
Ryan King
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The Biden administration gave Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) a major victory on a natural gas project amid his criticisms of the president’s energy policies.
Following multiple setbacks, the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service gave the Mountain Valley Pipeline developers approval to go through a 3.5-mile portion of the Jefferson National Forest, moving the project a step closer to wrapping up.
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Manchin, a frequent thorn in President Joe Biden’s side who chairs the Senate Energy Committee, has long backed the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, touting its ability to boost the state’s tax revenue and local jobs.
A vocal proponent of affordable and reliable energy, Manchin has soured on the administration’s climate change agenda in recent weeks. Last month, he threatened to back efforts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, one of Biden’s signature legislative achievements that featured an array of green energy investments.
“This legislation was balanced. In the next ten years, we are going to have enough fossil fuel to run our country and to help our allies around the world,” Manchin said in a statement. “Now, the Biden Administration has disregarded this completely. This was about energy security and we have not heard a word about energy security out of their mouths since it was passed. It’s all about the environment.”
Before commencing construction, the Forest Service is insisting its developer, Equitrans Midstream, acquire any necessary permits. This could pose significant hurdles. Last month, for instance, a permit from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection was nixed in federal court.
“It is infuriating to see the same 4th Circuit Court panel deal yet another setback for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project and once again side with activists who seem hell-bent on killing any fossil energy that will make our country energy independent and secure,” Manchin said in a statement at the time.
Over 94% of the project has been completed already, but it has been bogged down in litigation and permitting setbacks. Environmentalist activists have joined in opposition to the project, warning it poses risks to critical ecosystems.
“We maintain that the Mountain Valley Pipeline cannot be built through the Jefferson National Forest without lasting damage to sensitive forests, habitats and waters,” said Jessica Sims, Virginia field coordinator for Appalachian Voices. “Amending a forest plan 11 times to accommodate a ruinous project on treasured federal land is unacceptable.”
The Jefferson National Forest is fixated near the West Virginia-Virginia border.
At least two prior Forest Service approvals for the pipeline to cut through the Jefferson National Forest were rejected by federal courts in 2018 and 2022.
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Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) recently announced he would run for a Senate seat next year, posing a challenge to Manchin, a vulnerable Democrat in a deep-red state.
Manchin has not yet decided whether he will vie for reelection and has even suggested he could consider challenging Biden with a White House run.