ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is putting its support behind a controversial project.
On Monday, the chamber expressed it's support for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a 300 mile natural gas pipeline running from West Virginia, through Southwest Virginia before ending in Pittsylvania County.
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Many local landowners have strongly opposed the project, which will likely run through hundreds of properties.
Chamber president Joyce Waugh said a majority of members support the pipeline, which could have economic benefits for the region. But they want to see many of the existing issues with landowners ironed out.
"There was strong support for it primarily because of the potential of economic opportunity and benefits to the region and to the business community overall," Waugh said.
Estimates show the pipeline could bring millions in annual tax revenue.
Currently, the plan calls for the pipeline to run through Franklin, Roanoke, Montgomery, Giles and Pittsylvania counties. An alternate route would run through Craig County instead of Giles County.
Groups in several local communities have held rallies opposing the pipeline.Â