At its Sep. 21 meeting, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the construction of a natural gas pipeline from utility company Enbridge.
The proposed 12-inch wide pipeline would run 28 miles through Chatham and Lee counties, and would pass through the private property of numerous residents, requiring 50-foot-wide utility easements. Since its announcement, Enbridge and the Chatham County government have both received pushback from some residents, culminating in an Aug. 5 meeting where 50 landowners and environmental activists voiced their concerns to the board directly. According to the county’s release, the board’s decision to pass the resolution came in large part as a result of the statements provided by those speakers.
“The Board of Commissioners has heard clearly from residents who care deeply about protecting Chatham County’s farms, natural resources, private property rights, and quality of life,” Board Chair Amanda Robertson said in the release. “By adopting this resolution, we are affirming our commitment to protecting the long-term interests of our community and ensuring that the voices of our residents are represented throughout this process. Chatham County’s agricultural heritage, environmental assets, and private property rights are fundamental to who we are, and we believe it is our responsibility to advocate for their protection.”
Chatham County Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Robertson listens to resident concerns about a proposed natural gas pipeline at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro, N.C., on August 5, 2026 (Photo by Elena Pace/Chapel Hill Media Group).
The resolution authorizes the county to take both “lawful and appropriate” actions to oppose Enbridge’s development plans. Because utility companies have considerable rights of early access to begin planning and developing projects, and because the pipeline is “intrastate,” meaning it only crosses county lines, the regulatory approval process will take place at the state level of government. In lieu of being able to directly reject the plans, the county’s resolution provided examples of the kinds of action it could take.
Part of it reads: “WHEREAS, principles of justice, fairness, law, prudence, and the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the County all demand that the County thoroughly investigate the Enbridge Pipeline and, where allowed by law and supported by the facts, oppose the construction of the Pipeline, including by challenges to environmental permits, coordination with other groups with like missions, opposition in the media, organizing residents who also oppose the Pipeline, educating the public about their rights in condemnation actions, taking other steps allowed by law to oppose Enbridge’s anticipated efforts to condemn private property for the Pipeline, and otherwise take all reasonable actions to oppose the Pipeline…”
The resolution outlined the commissioners’ thought process behind opposing the pipeline, including the county’s previously stated commitment to protecting both the natural environment and farmland, and its concerns around what it describes as Enbridge’s lack of transparency around both the need for the pipeline and what it would be used for.
The current proposed route of Enbridge’s natural gas pipeline (Image via enbridgegas.com).
One concern brought up frequently at the Aug. 5 meeting was the idea that the pipeline could be used to help power the proposed Eco-Tip WEST data center, which is currently planned for construction in Moncure. Eco-Tip made headlines late last week after it won a lawsuit against Chatham County, in which it opposed the county’s 12-month moratorium on data center construction. Enbridge has repeatedly denied that its pipeline will be used to support that project. In a statement provided to Chapelboro, Enbridge representative Persida Montanez said the company will take the concerns of the board and Chatham County residents into account as planning continues.
“As a regulated utility, Enbridge Gas North Carolina has a statutory obligation to provide safe, reliable natural gas service to its customers,” she said. “The Chatham County System Expansion project is an important part of meeting that responsibility. The utility acknowledges the concerns outlined in the county’s resolution and remains committed to listening to stakeholders and providing information throughout the process. Enbridge Gas North Carolina welcomes opportunities to meet with community members, local leaders and other stakeholders to discuss questions and concerns related to the project. Our goal is to identify a route that minimizes impacts on communities and the environment to the greatest extent possible while meeting the area’s growing energy needs.”
As of Sep. 22, the pipeline project is still in the planning phase. Chatham County’s full resolution from the Board of Commissioners can be read here.
Featured image via Elena Pace/Chapel Hill Media Group
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