The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently determined that the Mountain Valley Pipeline may not resume construction until the state of West Virginia reconsiders a permit that would allow the pipeline to pass through state waters, the Washington Times reported. The pipeline is largely complete but is four years behind schedule due to repeated delays.

Machin for his part, took aim at climate activists who had worked against the project, saying “[i]t 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.”

He further asserted, per the outlet, that they are “standing in the way of restoring land to its natural beauty, getting more product to market to bolster our energy security and bring down prices and allowing West Virginians to benefit from the natural resources they own.”

[Yeah, all that is true. And which party does Joe Manchin claim? Who did he cut deals with last year to move which legislation? This year, he’s ‘independent,’ but last year he was enabling Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer while passing a massive-spending bill on climate change. — Ed]