(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

My name is Chase Linko-Looper. I’m a United States Army combat veteran, and a proud West Virginian. Being that West Virginia is my home, I do not wish to see its forests destroyed, or its wildlife pushed to extinction.

I don’t believe you want that either. The Mountain Valley Pipeline is under construction, and when operational, it will run all the way from the top of West Virginia in Wetzel County down to the southern tip of Virginia spanning 303 miles. That’s over 527 New River Gorge Bridges.

The M.V.P. will cross roughly 1,000 streams and wetlands as well as tear its way through several forests, endangering the wildlife and potentially causing the extinction of multiple species.

Our wild and wonderful state has experienced extreme flooding and droughts in recent years due to climate change, which has affected all West Virginians. Yet, our elected officials are attempting to ram the Mountain Valley Pipeline through our home, even though we are moving away from fossil fuels as a society.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline will be another nail in our coffin if we don’t stop it. As always, Montani Semper Liberi.

Chase Linko-Looper

Parkersburg