A major East Coast natural gas pipeline, the Mountain Valley Pipeline, has been granted approval to begin operating after six years of construction and at a cost that more than doubled its initial estimate. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given the green light for the 303-mile project that spans across challenging terrains in West Virginia and Virginia, despite opposition from environmental groups, landowners, and some officials.
The pipeline, with a price tag of $7.85 billion, aims to meet the rising energy demands in the South and mid-Atlantic regions by transporting gas from the Marcellus and Utica fields in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The project faced numerous hurdles, including weather delays, legal battles, and regulatory scrutiny.
