North Carolina landowners push back on gas pipeline that could cut through generations of land

In Chatham County, North Carolina, a dispute has arisen between Enbridge Gas North Carolina and local landowners over a proposed 28-mile natural gas pipeline. Families, some of whom have owned their land for generations, received letters from Enbridge requesting surveys for the pipeline route. Residents express concern that the route remains unsettled, potentially impacting farms, wetlands, and culturally significant Indigenous sites.

At a July 17 meeting in Pittsboro, approximately 40 people discussed the project, eminent domain, and the possibility that future data center demand is a key driver for the pipeline. Emily Sutton, executive director of the Haw River Assembly, announced plans to work with residents to stop the pipeline. Enbridge spokesperson Persida Montanez stated that the 12-inch pipeline is necessary to meet rising residential and business demand in Chatham and Lee counties, noting a 2.7% increase in customer totals in Chatham County over the past year. She added that the company is gathering input and takes cultural and archaeological resources seriously.

Opponents are organizing before the route is finalized, urging residents to ask the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to require separate environmental permits for each stream and wetland crossing, rather than a broader general permit. Landowners like Dorasue Christian, an 85-year-old widow, have voiced strong resistance to losing their family land. Concerns also include potential harm to waterways, wildlife, and documented Tuscarora village sites. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has scheduled an August 5 meeting to hear additional public comment on the project.