Front Porch Blog
Enbridge’s 122-mile pipeline in Tennessee is not a done deal
Learn more about TVA’s plans to convert the coal-fired Kingston Fossil Plant to gas, involving a 122-mile pipeline owned by pipeline giant Enbridge Inc. This webinar excerpt gives an overview of the project’s impacts and a tutorial on how to submit comments to FERC. Submit yours before Oct. 20!
Two weeks ago, I attended a public meeting along with dozens of Upper Cumberland residents about the proposed “natural” gas pipeline that is slated to cut through eight Tennessee counties. Some folks had just heard about the pipeline for the first time, and, while they hoped to get more information, many left with frustration about the inaccessible process.
The meeting was hosted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to seek comments on the 122-mile pipeline proposed by Enbridge Inc., a multi-billion-dollar fossil fuel company based in Canada. If built, the Ridgeline Expansion Project would supply gas to the Kingston Fossil Plant, which the Tennessee Valley Authority hopes to convert to gas instead of replacing with clean alternatives.
The meeting didn’t include a presentation or introduction to what this project means for the Tennessee Valley, even though it would have a major impact on our communities and our power bills. It would commit TVA ratepayers to paying for fossil fuels for decades — despite the increasing cost of so-called “natural” gas.
This year, ratepayers like me saw higher bills when TVA raised its “fuel cost adjustment” to deal with soaring gas prices. One local power company reported a 16.5% electricity bill increase for their average residential customer, writing that “the high price of natural gas is largely at fault.”
Converting the Kingston Fossil Plant to a natural gas facility would expose local communities — who already suffered the 2008 Kingston Coal Ash Spill — to more pollution while creating very few permanent jobs. TVA’s own estimate for another gas plant of the same size shows that only 25-35 permanent jobs would be created. Meanwhile, a recent study by Appalachian Voices showed that clean energy alternatives for replacing the plant would create hundreds of full-time jobs for the Tennessee Valley.
Because of these impacts, it’s important that people’s voices are heard. FERC is seeking written comments until Thursday, October 20, at 5 p.m. ET.
Say NO to the Enbridge pipeline
Many folks in impacted counties have been led to believe the project is a done deal or that it’s a modification of an existing pipeline. Others don’t recall hearing about it at all. But TVA hasn’t officially decided whether it’s going with gas, and this would be a brand new pipeline.
For communities on the route, there are significant public safety risks. In fact, pipelines owned by Enbridge have a history of explosions. In 2018, one of the company’s pipelines exploded in Smith County, and in 2019 a woman was killed when an Enbridge pipeline exploded in Kentucky. People deserve to be informed about these risks.
The route of the proposed Enbridge pipeline would cut through the Flynn Creek Impact Crater, where a meteorite struck 360 million years ago. Photo by Gabi Lichtenstein
In total, the pipeline would cross about 550 streams and wetlands, including tributaries of the Obed River, a National Wild and Scenic River. This river is home to several threatened and critically endangered species, such as the Alabama lamp mussel that is found at only one other site in the world.
All over the country, people are winning their fights against pipelines when they come together to use their collective power. The turnout at the Upper Cumberland meeting was only possible because folks told their friends about it and published articles in the local newspaper. It’s up to us to spread the word in our communities and share why this gas buildout is bad for Tennessee.
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First of all, i would like to express my gratitude for a well written, and well researched article intended to raise a valid concern based on information that was undoubtedly gained from trusted sources that no one has any reason to doubt. Unfortunately it’s a perfect example of just how misinformed the public is on this issue. In brief; we remain a nation deeply reliant on petroleum products. We are equally dependent on utilities such as electricity and water, however utility companies could lay an underground electric or water line tomorrow, without prior warning directly through these same environmental and cultural resources without anyone’s notice, much less the need for environmental restrictions, or the involvement of special interest groups, or lengthy periods of consideration by the local government. Natural gas pipelines face more adversity than any form of underground utility construction by such a large margin, that it has resulted in a product that is built by an industry that has evolved to a point of optimum performance. There are very few products produced in the United States today that are held to such standards as a transmission gas line, yet they continue to be synonymous with bad environmental practices and poor stewards of cultural resources.
We need this work in TN. If you don’t want the gas or pipeline stop using any Petroleum products. Just a quick google search will tell you how big of a hypocrite you really are. If you aren’t willing to cease use while also lobbying for cancellation of the pipeline just stop taking and spreading false information.
There are 2.6 million miles of pipeline operating in the USA. Manufacturing line pipe along with manufacturing steel, which is much cleaner carbon steel today than 20 years ago, which gives about .000001% of a leak, accident, or failure caused by the integrity of the pipe. There is a higher probability of an earthquake, volcano, and tornado ALL occurring at the same time, in the same location than a major disaster caused by a brand new 150-mile trunkline lateral to ease the supply grid for natural gas.
Why dont you strick a compromise and where environmental issues are not a problem use the pipeline and where wind, solar or other renewables along the route use those. Scope out a multi energy solution so there is no reliance or environmental impact by one or the other. We need to be energy independent and all these methods are viable. Natural gas emissions can be reducing carbon footprint by scrubbers and filteting.
Stop all the naysaying miss , I have worked for several pipelines over the years . Everybody has there own opinions, I see countless recklessness everyday from people driving down our highways and byways. Cell phones are the number one killer of more people driving down the road than any pipeline will ever be . As a matter of fact I would prefer to meet a drunk driver on a highway than someone looking at cell phone. At least the drunk is looking at you .they’re just trying to figure out which one of the three coming at them that you are, the ones reading your article while driving are not even paying attention to anything 🤷♂️ js my honest opinion. And I am half Cherokee and Apache.
This is the first we have been made aware of this. What are the significant impacts to the proposed area of Tennessee’s rural areas? Could this be the reason for big land parcels on the market. We need more information before deciding if it’s beneficial or not.