Chatham County Landowners Fight Enbridge's 28-Mile Gas Pipeline
North Carolina property owners are pushing back against Enbridge Gas over a proposed pipeline, citing property, water, and transparency concerns.
Landowners in Chatham County, North Carolina, are mounting opposition to a 28-mile natural gas pipeline proposed by Enbridge Gas that would run from Siler City to Moncure, challenging the energy giant over what they describe as threats to property values, drinking water safety, and a troubling lack of transparency around easement negotiations.
Enbridge Gas argues the pipeline is essential infrastructure, maintaining that rising energy demand in both Chatham and Lee counties makes the project necessary. The company says it is still working to finalize the pipeline route, with construction potentially beginning as early as fall 2027 if regulatory and logistical hurdles are cleared.
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Beyond private landowner grievances, the project has drawn scrutiny from environmental organizations alarmed by the pipeline's potential impact on wetlands and habitats home to endangered species. Critics contend that routing a major gas line through ecologically sensitive terrain carries risks that have not been adequately addressed by the company or regulators.
The standoff reflects a broader national tension between energy companies pressing to expand fossil fuel infrastructure and local communities demanding greater accountability before approving projects that cut across private land and fragile ecosystems. Easement disputes in particular have emerged as a flashpoint, with landowners alleging they have not received sufficient information about the terms under which Enbridge would gain access to their property.
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