Pipeline fight heads to Washington

Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API): Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Sep 07, 2022 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API) The Mountain Valley pipeline route cutting through Virginia. | Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP, File Congress is about to hear from hundreds of angry anti-pipeline activists. They are en route from across the country, with some coming from as far away as Alaska, to urge lawmakers on Thursday to nix the controversial Mountain Valley pipeline — and scrub it from a side deal Democratic lawmakers made to advance President Joe Biden's climate law. After holding out for months, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia finally agreed to support the climate measure on the condition that Senate Democrats ease permitting requirements. The deal would help expedite energy infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Mountain Valley pipeline, which is slated to transport natural gas from West Virginia shale reserves to energy markets in mid-Atlantic states. The story of the Appalachian pipeline, which federal regulators first approved in 2017, epitomizes the upcoming congressional battle over Manchin's deal. For Manchin, the 304-mile project is a perfect example of an inefficient and burdensome process to build critical energy infrastructure. Mountain Valley has been mired in legal battles and permitting delays for years. But others maintain that the embattled pipeline highlights the need for more robust environmental reviews and tighter checks on government agencies. While federal and state entities have continued to greenlight the project, courts have determined that the development plan for the pipeline does not comply with current environmental law. Its construction, the courts determined, could harm hundreds of waterways, wetlands and endangered fish in Appalachia. Senate Democratic leaders said last month they intend to attach a permitting proposal to the spending bill that needs to pass before October to avert a government shutdown. While the details of the proposal have yet to be released, opponents of the Mountain Valley pipeline are livid. More than 80 groups sent a letter Wednesday to congressional leadership, urging them to jettison the plan to fast-track the pipeline from the overall permitting proposal. Over 1,000 people plan to attend a rally Thursday evening at the Capitol, and hundreds more are slated to take part in lobbying meetings on the Hill. While progressive Democratic members have vehemently opposed the permitting proposal, party leadership have said they intend to honor the deal.   It's Wednesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell.  Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net. Today in POLITICO Energy's podcast: Catherine Morehouse explains why natural gas prices are rising and how the Biden administration is responding. Listen to today's POLITICO Energy podcast   A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): The oil and natural gas industry is the backbone of our economy, supporting more than 11 million jobs, and makes our American way of life possible. Today, energy demand is outstripping supply. One way to address this mismatch is to end permitting obstruction on natural gas projects. Find out more here.   Power Centers Homes under construction are seen in Novato, Calif. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Gas ban drama Biden's climate law could reshape a national tug of war over natural gas bans and electrification, influencing fossil fuel development for decades, writes David Iaconangelo. The bill invests billions of dollars into swapping out gas boilers, stoves and water heaters for electric ones. The funding could spur a new wave of policies banning natural gas in buildings across the country. Environmental justice concerns Carbon capture and storage may be gaining traction as a way to slash emissions from power plants, natural gas terminals and industrial facilities, writes Jean Chemnick. But environmental justice advocates worry that it will become a lifeline for fossil fuels, unevenly burdening the communities that have long suffered from the polluting facilities built next door. Nuclear meltdown fears The United Nations nuclear watchdog called for the creation of a nuclear safety and security protection zone around a plant in Ukraine, writes Wilhelmine Preussen. Increased fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces near the nuclear power plant in the last month has sparked concerns about the risks of an accident. In Other News Rabbi Elliott Tepperman speaks at an interfaith rally for climate action. | Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images What's God got to do with it: How faith groups played a key role in pushing Biden's climate law over the finish line. Cow about that diet: What we feed cows could be a key to fighting climate change. Question Corner The science, policy and politics driving the energy transition can feel miles away. But we're all affected on an individual and communal level — from hotter days and higher gas prices to home insurance rates and food supply. Want to know more? Send me your questions and I'll get you answers.   A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API):   Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Turbines generating electricity off the coast of Rhode Island. | John Moore/Getty Images Five New England states have launched a coordinated effort to help connect offshore wind projects and other carbon-free resources to the power grid. A brutal summer of floods, drought, heat and fire is pushing climate change closer to a political tipping point. Lawsuits seeking to force governments to step up their climate ambitions are on the rise in the United States and around the globe. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): How can Washington confront the growing gap between demand and supply that has driven higher fuel prices? By supporting greater U.S. energy production. To do so, Government agencies must end permitting obstruction on natural gas projects. Specifically, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) should cease efforts to overstep its permitting authority under the Natural Gas Act and should focus on direct impacts arising from the construction and operation of natural gas projects. Find out more about other policies lawmakers should enact to unleash the power of American energy here.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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