Virgin Hyperloop One, currently working to commercialize hyperloop technology, is looking for a place to set up a certification and test center, and if U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has his way, it will be placed squarely in West Virginia.
Virgin One has requested proposals from states, regional or local governments, as well as other organizations, regarding the new facility. It intends to use the new facility to establish regulatory standards for the new tech, which it hopes will one day allow movement of passengers and cargo at a fraction of the cost of air travel, without sacrificing speed. Enter Manchin, a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.
In a letter to the company’s former chairman, Richard Branson, Manchin lauded the potential that West Virginia has to offer. He had previously discussed the subject with company leadership in October.
“I recently met with your team from Virgin Hyperloop One that is working to build the certification center and test facility for your company’s hyperloop technology in the United States,” Manchin said. “I came away from the meeting convinced that this is a giant leap forward into the future of transportation, an engine that will change the way we travel and transform the national landscape. I am just as convinced that my state of West Virginia is the partner you are seeking to make this a reality. You have set forth an aggressive schedule for construction of the test site and certification, and I strongly believe that West Virginia can move Virgin Hyperloop One through complete testing to full operational capability more efficiently than anywhere else.”
In his letter, Manchin boasted of the state’s track record with corporate and governmental partners, as well as other countries. Location was another selling point: West Virginia, he pointed out, is at the midpoint of the Eastern Seaboard and within 500 miles of 50 percent of the U.S. population. He also touted the region’s energy resources and workforce capabilities. Yet he did not shy away from any negative connotations as well, turning them into a strength.
“I firmly believe that West Virginians will work harder than anyone else to ensure your technology for the future transportation system of America thrives,” Manchin said. “I won’t shy away from the problems that Appalachia faces today, which are similar to many areas in your native U.K. But these problems can be overcome, and I believe that the right kind of vision – one between Hyperloop One and the leaders of our state – can bring growth and prosperity.”