Stop Pipelines & Fracked Gas

Photo By Sierra Shamer / Fractracker
Two decades ago, so-called natural gas exploded on the American energy market, pushed by the industry as a supposedly clean “bridge” fuel to transition the economy from dirty coal to renewable sources of electricity generation like solar and wind.
But this gas is far from clean. From the time that it is extracted using a destructive drilling method called fracking, its transport through pipelines, train cars and trucks, to the power plants where it is burned, the dire environmental and human costs of this fossil fuel are now abundantly clear. In particular, this polluting infrastructure is often sited in communities of color, lower-income areas and other environmental justice communities.
Studies show that investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency are on par with, or sometimes more affordable than, building new gas infrastructure. Many states are enacting policies to tap into the rising solar and wind sector. Yet the fossil fuel industry is rushing to build methane gas pipelines and power plants to squeeze as much profit as possible out of the waning fuel, putting most of the financial risk on customers.
Appalachian Voices is tackling the spread of fracked gas head-on by legally challenging fossil fuel proposals and pushing back against the antiquated policies and rubber-stamping agencies that govern the development of gas infrastructure. We are also partnering with communities in the fight against new fossil fuel infrastructure, providing resources and training to bolster local opposition. And we are pressuring decision-makers to force them to consider the harm to communities threatened by polluting energy development.
And the tide is starting to turn. In July 2020, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy canceled the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The massive fossil fuel project was riddled with problems, starting with the fundamental fact it was not needed to meet energy demand. Standing beside the many communities and organizations that made this historic victory possible, we’re taking this momentum and applying it toward the fight against other destructive, climate-harming projects that threaten community safety, our clean air and water, and that would raise electricity costs for residents.

The North Carolina House of Representatives will soon vote on SB 472, a bill that would reduce the Department of Environmental Quality’s review projects like methane gas pipelines to just FIVE DAYS. This is not enough time to allow for public input or ensure state waterways and communities are protected!

Latest News
FERC rubber stamps unneeded Southgate fracked-gas pipeline
CONTACT: Ridge Graham, North Carolina Field Coordinator, ridge@appvoices.org,…
The Supreme Court rules, but ACP fight far from over
The proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline still lacks more than half a dozen key permits and faces fierce policy and economic headwinds. The fight to stop it is far from over.
It’s high time to abandon ship on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Try as they might, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy have never been able to justify the tremendous environmental and social costs of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline — nor the project’s economic burden on customers. As they meet with shareholders this week, they should abandon ship on this boondoggle.
Va governor signs pipeline bill that protects consumers
A new law in Virginia protects electricity customers from paying for unnecessary natural gas pipelines; it could have impact on the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
Va governor signs pipeline bill that protects consumers
CONTACT: Cat McCue 434-293-6373 cat@appvoices.org This week, Virginia…
Lawsuits Against Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines Ramp Up
Pipeline developers continue to be met with opposition from landowners, environmental groups, legislators and more.