SILER CITY, N.C.—John Alderman received a certified letter from a New Orleans attorney, sparking concerns about its implications.
In April, Enbridge, a Canadian company, revealed plans for a 28-mile natural gas pipeline through Chatham County, connecting Siler City to Moncure. Contractors are currently surveying potential routes, including Alderman’s land.
“I resent a letter like that,” expressed Alderman, a resident of western Chatham County. “We are informed, without consultation, that someone plans to access our land. It’s an affront.”
Persida Montanez, an Enbridge spokesperson, stated the pipeline aims to address regional energy demands in Chatham and Lee counties. It would connect with an existing system near Siler City, head southeast, and terminate near Moncure.
The pipeline would bypass Pittsboro but might cross several creeks leading to the Deep River and other main waterways like the Rocky and Haw Rivers.
Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2027, with operations starting in spring 2028. Total project costs are yet to be finalized, Montanez noted.
Enbridge must secure various state permits, and if it crosses waterways, a federal water quality permit will be necessary.
This marks Enbridge’s second major pipeline in the state since 2024, following their acquisition of Dominion Energy’s natural gas business. The first is the T15 pipeline, spanning 45 miles from Eden to Duke Energy’s plants near Roxboro.
These initiatives contribute to North Carolina’s substantial natural gas expansion, potentially emitting substantial greenhouse gases annually. While natural gas companies claim these projects meet growing power demands, critics argue they inflate demand projections.
Alderman, 72, of Viking descent, lives with his wife Gloria in a solar-powered house within a 195-acre forest. In 2023, they received a federal grant to sequester carbon in their forest, which could store up to 100,000 tons within two years.
“We’re carbon negative,” Alderman noted, highlighting their climate efforts. He drives a solar-charged electric truck, emphasizing their commitment to sustainability. “Now we face the irony of a gas line threatening our property.”
A Threat to Three Rivers
John and Gloria Alderman met in ecology class in 1974 and both pursued careers in biology. John specialized in endangered species, witnessing many nearing extinction.
Inside their home, a wall of cartoons depicts Alderman opposing development threats. Gloria admires his dedication, saying, “His work was fighting. John is not shy.”
On purchasing their land six years ago, the Aldermans knew of Duke Energy’s permanent easement for a transmission line. However, they did not anticipate a pipeline potentially disrupting the pristine habitat in Chatham County.
“I think with maps,” Alderman said, projecting the proposed route on a large display. He traced a new water main as the catalyst for development, triggering new subdivisions and leading to the proposed pipeline.
The Rocky and Deep rivers, part of the Cape Fear River Basin, are ecologically significant but impaired due to pollution. If the pipeline crosses these waterways, Alderman fears more aquatic life could be at risk.
“These rivers are under threat. If we want to restore the Cape Fear River, it’s because we saved the Rocky and Deep Rivers,” Alderman asserted.
The Triangle Innovation Point
The pipeline would pass through County Commission District 2, represented by Amanda Robertson. She previously opposed the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which was canceled in 2020 after public resistance.
“Now we face yet another pipeline, and I will do everything possible to stop it,” Robertson stated. “It will be a fight.”
Moncure, home to about 800 residents, lies along an economic development corridor with industries like composite wood panel manufacturing and a coal ash recycling facility.
However, recent projects have encroached on the area. The Enbridge pipeline is set to terminate at the Triangle Innovation Point, where significant deforestation occurred for the Vietnamese electric vehicle company VinFast’s factory, which is delayed.
A proposed 750-megawatt data center at TIP is facing litigation over a county moratorium. “Gas and data centers are interconnected,” said Emily Sutton, the Haw Riverkeeper. “If we don’t manage data center expansion, more fossil fuel projects will follow.”
“Surviving Climate Change”
In the Aldermans’ garden, blueberries bloom, clay soil is prepared for summer planting, and sugar snap peas grow.
Gloria designed their energy-efficient home to align with the Earth’s revolution, optimizing sunlight capture. The house and solar panels face south, with porch pillars marking solstices.
The home is designed to withstand climate challenges, with fireproof and insulating features. “Surviving climate change is our goal,” Alderman stated. “The pipeline undermines our efforts.”
Eminent domain allows private companies to use land for public interest projects, with fair compensation for landowners. Alderman sent a certified letter to Enbridge’s attorneys, emphasizing, “Explore alternatives. Stay off my property.”
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org