Developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) are exploring a significant expansion that would boost the pipeline's natural gas capacity by approximately 25%, a move dubbed "MVP Boost." 

The plan, which could involve constructing a new compressor station near the border of Montgomery and Roanoke counties, aims to meet growing energy demands in the Southeast and Northern Virginia.

While no formal proposal has yet been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the concept was presented to shareholders this week by Pittsburgh-based EQT Corp., the largest stakeholder in the pipeline's joint venture.

EQT CEO Toby Rice stated Wednesday during an investor call that MVP Boost would "provide additional takeaway from Appalachia into Virginia to serve the Southeast markets, unleashing reliable, low-cost, low-emissions natural gas into a region that is seeing significant demand growth."

The existing 303-mile, 42-inch-diameter Mountain Valley Pipeline, which began operations in June 2024, currently transports up to 2 billion cubic feet of gas daily from West Virginia through six Virginia counties to a compressor station in Pittsylvania County. The "MVP Boost" project would add another 500 million cubic feet to this daily capacity.

The pipeline's initial construction faced years of legal and permitting challenges from environmental groups and property owners. Despite this, Rice indicated that due to "strong project momentum," EQT has already begun ordering parts with long lead times.

Pending regulatory approval, EQT anticipates MVP Boost will commence operations in 2029. The company highlighted in its investor presentation that the expanded natural gas capacity would primarily serve electric utility demand in the Southeast and power the increasing number of data centers in Northern Virginia.

A recent report projected that Virginia's electricity demand could triple by 2040 if the unconstrained growth of data centers continues.