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Davie and Davidson county residents attend Duke Energy open houses to oppose plans for a massive fossil fuel complex along the Yadkin River
In Davie and Davidson counties, Duke Energy held two open houses about their proposed Davie-Davidson methane gas energy complex. Duke owns roughly 1,600-acre tracts of land in both counties, separated by the Yadkin River, and wants to build two massive methane gas-fired power plants, totaling almost 3 gigawatts, in Davie County, and a massive, untested first-of-its-kind “enhanced” liquefied natural gas facility in Davidson County. This development would also require a roughly 3-mile methane gas pipeline under the Yadkin River to connect the infrastructure. However, this project is by no means a done deal. Outside of both open houses, community members from the grassroots groups “Davidson and Davie for a Clean Future” and “Davie Against Data” showed up with bold signs, creative chants and powerful speeches to protest Duke’s plans. Roughly 40 residents joined in the demonstrations across the two days. The proposed project follows widespread opposition to data centers and increasing electric bills in Davie and Davidson counties. Duke Energy proposed these power plants due to projected demand from data centers and other large industries. Duke continues to keep quiet about the true impacts this project would have. This project would strip away the natural character of the region, remove areas of Perkins Game Land from preservation and public use, industrialize this historical, natural stretch of the Yadkin River, and fill the air with health-compromising air pollutants, all paid for by Duke Energy customers. Impacts to the Yadkin River, harmful air pollution, emergency response plans, loss of rural character and data center proliferation are among the many concerns that residents continue to echo in their opposition. Residents Outside of the Open House in Mocksville “Air pollution, to me, is one of the greatest threats that this plan has,” said Barry Sink, a resident of Davidson County. “The pollution coming from the stacks of this installation would be phenomenal. The pain, the suffering, the illnesses, the kids that come up with respiratory diseases, the heart attacks, the strokes, all of that kind of stuff that you can’t put dollars and cents on. But we can stop it. We can fight the battle. We can win the battle.” “We picked Mocksville, Davie County, as our home because it doesn’t look like Winston-Salem or Salisbury,” said Sarah Weschler, a resident of Davie County. “When you hit those highway exits and you see the sunflowers on Farmington or the zinnias, you know you are in Davie County. When you’re driving through the parts of town that are just full of greenery and farmhouses, and you can follow the winding roads with cows and cornfields, you know you’re in Davie County. And that’s a place worth fighting for.” “This massive proposed development would permanently change the wild and historic character of this section of the Yadkin River into an industrial corridor,” said Nicole Eastman, Yadkin Riverkeeper. “North Carolinians visit this stretch of the Yadkin River State Trail to experience a beautiful forested, winding river. These wild sections are special in our growing state and need to be protected from an unnecessary development to safeguard drinking water and recreational use, historical value, and habitat.” “Air pollution is already high in this area, with fine particulate matter levels in Davidson County already close to going over the federal limit,” said Juhi Modi, North Carolina Program Coordinator with Appalachian Voices. “This project would release more PM2.5 and could lead to the limit being exceeded, limiting future industries and economic development opportunities for the community that would bring far more jobs than this gas complex.” Press release published by Appalachian Voices
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CWFNC Collaborates on New Brief Report with NRDC about PFAS Use in Data Centers.
Read full report here 'Chemours and Data Centers: A Love Story' Chemours, data centers, and PFAS For years, communities downstream and downwind of Chemours have experienced high levels of PFAS (forever chemicals) in their public drinking water and water wells. According to extensive research by NRDC, the AI boom isn’t just increasing the demand for data centers, but it’s also increasing demand for PFAS manufactured by companies like Chemours. How? Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont, is a major manufacturer of PFAS (aka toxic “forever chemicals”), and it is betting big on data centers. PFAS can be used on a massive scale in data centers and can be released during electrical arcing to the environment for cooling, fire suppression, and increasing flow. PFAS are used in the production of semiconductors and other electronic components. Unfortunately, the entire life cycle of the PFAS used in data centers puts human and environmental health at risk, from the manufacturing of PFAS to their use on-site at data centers and their eventual disposal. Report by Corinne Bell, Senior Attorney NRDC. Coauthored with Hope Taylor, now senior advisor for Clean Water for NC. Read full report here
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Data Center Moratorium Hearing in Durham- Remove the Loophole!
Durham County Data Center Moratorium Hearing 8/24 Location: County Commissioners Office- 200 E Main St Durham NC 27701 When: Monday Aug 24 6 pm Rally Meeting @ 7 pm The data center moratorium the county is considering, would allow 100,000 square foot data centers, without any new or additional regulations. That’s a huge industrial site, with generators, and IBM estimates that size of data center to use 100 megawatts of power. 100MW is 1/13 of a new Duke Energy methane gas power plant. It is not trivial, it is a real impact on our bills, water, air, and climate. These county moratoriums are the real life brakes on Duke’s runaway greed and the possible AI bubble. It also requires closed-loop cooling systems, which can lead to PFAS being discharged into drinking water sources. If we pass a county moratorium as strong as the city’s we can take the time to pass regulations that will protect our communities from these impacts. Durham needs to show up and speak out, to make sure that we get a real pause, and not one that doesn’t really address the problem. Check out our talking points for your comment here.
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Groundtruthing of Risks Maps & Pilot Outreach Study in Two Western NC Counties
Clean Water for NC’s Collaboration with George Washinton University: What we did, and what we learned. Summer of 2025 Last summer, Clean Water for NC collaborated with the Research and Engagement for Action on Climate and Health (REACH) Center at George Washington University, working with on a pilot project (led by Dr. Xindi Hu) aiming to safeguard private well water quality and mitigate the impacts of hurricanes in North Carolina. We led the development of an equitable outreach strategy for post-hurricane private well stewardship, leveraging our mission of Environmental Justice, knowledge on well construction requirements, and local community expectations. Read the full technical report from the project team here! Utilizing Risk Maps to Inform Outreach George Washington University developed Risks Maps, compromised of a hazard index (quantifies how a region is vulnerable to pollution sources), vulnerability index (measures how a region is vulnerable to groundwater contaminants), and a capacity index (captures the ability of a region to gather individual and collective resources to adapt to extreme climate events). Our mission at Clean Water for NC is to protect Environmental Justice by prioritizing our efforts to organize, educate and advocate with disproportionately impacted communities, leading our team to be particularly attentive to the information provided by the capacity index. Based on the risk maps developed by GWU and our engagement with all 26 Environmental Health Departments in Western NC, we selected Avery and Henderson Counties to prioritize our work. Our selection was based on the expressed interest of the Environmental Health Directors, the number of post-Helene well samples reported, and the severity of local flooding impacts. Avery County Through meetings with Mason Gardener, Toe River District Health Director, we were able to get a clear sense of where the most vulnerable communities were located. Utilizing his knowledge of flooding impacts and demographic characteristics of the county, and studying the risks maps developed by GWU, we were able to tailor our outreach to areas of highest concern for well contamination and lowest ability to respond to a contamination problem. We met with 17 households, conducted free well testing using kits available from the EHD, left educational flyers around homes and community center, and held a community event where residents came out to learn more about the importance of post-hurricane well testing and collect a free sample kit to test their water quality. Henderson County Relying mainly on the risks maps to identify areas of highest concern, we conducted extensive windshield surveying of the area, analyzed the county’s public water system maps, and were able to narrow down our outreach to the same parameters as in Avery County. In Henderson, the county had a very limited supply of free DHHS well testing kits. We were able to connect with the nonprofit Wine to Water, a group continuously providing free well testing support post-Helene. We connected with residents in 18 homes and left flyers around community centers, using our collaboration with Wine to Water to provide residents with free well testing access. Most residents were unaware of the importance of well testing, and the availability of free access. What We Learned Through this collaboration, we gathered valuable insight from well-owners and residents that faced the brunt of Hurricane Helene. This study increased our understanding of how the mapping of risk factors can aid in prioritizing disproportionately impacted areas for outreach and education. By using the risks maps, we were able to connect with and provide support to residents that had faced impacts from Helene but had not yet secured the safety of their drinking water. Read the full technical report from the project team here!
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Speak Out on Forever Chemicals in NC’s Water!
Now is your chance to speak out on forever chemicals in North Carolina’s water! The NC Environmental Management Commission (NCEMC) is writing the rules that will govern how these toxic forever chemicals are regulated and monitored across North Carolina. Currently the EMC is running concurrent hearings on PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane Minimization and Monitoring rules. However, the rules up for comment are WEAK, as they do not require polluters to reduce their toxic discharge, and do not impose consequences even if polluters increase their toxic dischargers. These rules would allow nearly 500 industries to continue dumping their toxic discharge into NC rives and drinking water supplies. These are polluter written rules, set to minimize nothing but the protection of NC water. Speak at a public hearing, or submit a comment online by June 15th The North Carolina EMC is running concurrent public hearings. You will be given 3 minutes to speak. Urge the EMC to pass stronger rules and enforce strong limits on PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane to protect NC drinking water! Upcoming Public Hearings PFAS Hearings April 7- Asheville, 6pm- Ferguson Auditorium, AB-Tech Community College, 19 Tech Drive, Asheville, N.C., 28801 April 20- Raleigh, 6pm- Archdale Building, Ground Floor Hearing Room, 512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, N.C., 27604 April 23- Wilmington, 6pm- Wilmington City Hall at Skyline Center, 1st Floor Conference Center, 929 North Front St., Wilmington, 28401 1, 4 Dioxane Hearings April 9- Hickory, 6pm- Catawba County St. Stephens Branch Library, 3225 Springs Road, Hickory, N.C., 28601 April 14- Fayetteville, 6pm- Fayetteville Technology Community College, Tony Rand Student Center multipurpose room, 2220 Hull Rd. Fayetteville, N.C., 28303 May 12- Jamestown, 6pm- Percy H. Sears Applied Technologies Building Auditorium, Guilford Technical Community College, 1201 Bonner Dr., Jamestown, N.C., 27282 Sign in and speaker registration beings at 5pm. To submit a comment online, email your written comment to publiccomments@deq.nc.gov, with the subject line “PFAS Minimization” or“1,4-dioxane minimization.” Comments are due by June 15th. What are PFAS? PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in industrial and manufacturing processes since the 1940’s. These chemicals were first created due to their unique ability to resist water and grease. PFAS are found in: Nonstick cookware Food packing Water resistance clothing Stain-resistant products Cosmetics and much more Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are highly persistent, synthetic chemicals that do not break down in the environment or the human body, causing significant environmental and health risks. Due to their widespread use in industrial processes, these chemicals are being dumped into NC’s rivers and drinking water supplies. More than 3.5 million North Carolinians drink water contaminated with unsafe levels of PFAS. Health issues linked to PFAS exposure: Thyroid Diseases Kidney Disease Hormone Disruption (reproductive impairment) Cardiovascular Illnesses Developmental Harm to Children and Infants What is 1,4 Dioxane? 1, 4 Dioxane is a synthetic, colorless liquid, used as an industrial solvent. It is often created as a byproduct of plastic polymer production. 1, 4 Dioxane is being dumped into drinking water supplies as discharge from these industrial companies that it is used/created as a byproduct. Conventional drinking water treatment systems cannot remove 1, 4 Dioxane from water. 1, 4 Dioxane is a known human carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancers through exposure. Long-term exposure has also been linked to liver and kidney damage. North Carolina has some of the worst 1, 4 Dioxane pollution in the nation. The City of Asheboro allows industrial facility StarPET to pass its contaminated wastewater discharge to the city treatment plant, where 1, 4 Dioxane cannot be removed. This has led to contaminated water being dumped into the Deep and Cape Fear Rovers, threating the drinking water of nearly 900,000 downstream residents. Learn more here. Clean Water for North Carolina in the news- Asheville Public Hearing Clean Water for North Carolina is working to protect NC water from these toxic forever chemicals. We attend the Asheville public hearing to speak out on PFAS. Western North Carolina’s water is nothing to play with. We can’t let polluters write the rules to the game. Read this article from Mountain XPress Quoting CWFNC’s Western EJ Organizer/Researcher, Crystal Norford, saying, “As an organization which first worked to hold DuPont accountable for releases of the legacy PFAS PFOA or C-8 in 2003, we know Chemours and other industries will do nothing to reduce their pollution unless they are held to strict limits. We do not lack data on these forever chemicals, we lack action.” Attend a public hearing or submit a comment online- telling NC regulators to enforce stronger limits on forever chemicals in our water!
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Person County Residents Demand Answers from Microsoft
A photo of Microsoft's plans for 4 data centers where Country Club Rd. is closed off. Microsoft shared this as an exhibit at their info session in summer 2026.A photo of where Country Club Rd is closed. The road was closed without sharing with the community the true reason why: Microsoft's plans for four data centers.Microsoft & Person County Announce Data Center Plans: Why Community Members are Concerned Microsoft bought the Person County mega-site in 2024. For over a year, Person County officials and Microsoft did not share what their plans were. The uncertainty created concerns among local residents and a fear that decisions which will impact resident’s lives are being made without transparency. In February, 2026, Microsoft & Person County announced the following, “Microsoft purchased 1,350 acres of land in Person County and plans to begin the permitting process for data center development later this year. Data center projects are highly complex and typically span several years, requiring careful planning, design, and close collaboration with the county, local partners, and the community.” Data centers create a lot of concerns for local communities. They are huge warehouses that employ few people, but use a lot of electricity and water resources. They cause air pollution, noise pollution, and can contribute to water pollution. Since Microsoft says they want to collaborate with the community, Person County residents came together and wrote a letter with a set of questions for Microsoft, that have yet to be answered. Recent Updates After community push back, Microsoft & Person County encouraged folks to check a new blog they created for the Person County site for updates. You can send your questions (and thoughts!) to the email Microsoft has created PersonDC@microsoft.com or leave a message at 980-776-2251. In May 2026, The Assembly published: The Data Center That Didn’t Exist, which described how Person County commissioners and Microsoft hid that a planned data center was the true reason for closing Country Club Road. Other major concerns highlighted in this article: the county was searching for taxpayer funded grants for sewer upgrades for the site. In June 2026, Microsoft held a community meeting at Piedmont Community College. They shared a picture of their plans for the site. What You Can Do Sign the letter!: Person County Needs Answers from Microsoft You can always email your thoughts on this to Person County commissioners or Roxboro City Council. You can send your questions (and thoughts!) to the email Microsoft has created PersonDC@microsoft.com or leave a message at 980-776-2251 Upcoming Events Stay tuned! Data Center Concerns Microsoft plans to construct a data center. The data center boom in North Carolina is being driven by companies investing in artificial intelligence tools. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? AI performs complex tasks normally handled by humans. Data centers employ very few people and can even take jobs away. Learn more in our new report: Build Before the Bubble Bursts: Understanding the Business Model Behind the Data Center Center Boom in NC Data center investments are risky. Financial experts are starting to warn of an AI bubble, similar to the dot com crash in the 2000s, or the 2008 crash of the housing market. It seems like the bubble is still inflating, and developers are still proposing data centers anywhere they can . There is a risk of overbuilding, and data centers being abandoned when the bubble pops or new, more efficient technology is adopted. They consume tons of energy and strain local water supplies. Backup generators release harmful chemicals into the air that can harm heart and lung health.. Data centers are LOUD, run 24/7, and range from 55-85 decibels (vacuum cleaner or lawn mower). High electric bills. Rising electricity costs are linked to new infrastructure needed for AI data centers, contributing to electricity bills increasing 2x faster than inflation. Spread the Word! Share information on social media: Follow us on Facebook for events you can share Instagram: follow us @cleanwaternc for updates! Share the letter: Person County Needs Answers from Microsoft Resources to educate neighbors: Microsoft’s Person County blog– Microsoft says they will share updates here, although the community meeting was not shared and there are no updates since April 2026. Flyer + talking points from the electricity rate hike hearing in Roxboro. Useful info on Microsoft’s impact on electric bills. New Report: Build Before the Bubble Bursts: Understanding the Business Model Behind the Data Center Boom in North Carolina Article on Person County residents’ quest for answers from WRAL The Data Center that Didn’t Exist– The Assembly article on the non-disclosure agreement between Person County & Microsoft for this site. Check out the basic map below, showing the location of the future Microsoft Data Center
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Lee County: No Fracking Data Center
Simpson well in lee county A photo of the Simpson well in Lee County, also now abandoned. Butler Well #3 is in the same county, and is abandoned, at least for now. Developers Want to Extract Gas for an AI Data Center in Lee County: Why Community Members are Concerned Deep River Data wants to power an AI data center with gas from Butler Well #3 in Lee County. A North Carolina journalist, Lisa Sorg, reported on this plan in November, 2025: A Company Eyes What Would Be North Carolina’s First Commercial Natural Gas Well. Butler Well #3 is located near the Lee-Chatham county line, south of U.S. Highway 421, close to Cumnock & Sanford, NC. It is unlikely this well will produce any usable amount of gas without hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). Fracking has never been used in North Carolina. Deep River Data’s goal is to open up the gas well, and use the methane gas extracted on-site to power an AI data center. Right now, they are working on submitting an application to the NC Oil & Gas Commission, in order to do that. The risk is real. This project would pose serious threats to our drinking water wells, the Deep River, and our children’s health. The air pollution from gas drilling, fracking, refining that gas, and burning it 24/7 in gas generators to power a data center would harm local residents’ health. UPDATE: Sanford is holding a public hearing on a set of rules for data centers… and they could VOTE to approve these rules on Tuesday 4/21. Sanford City residents shouldn’t be rushed into a set of rules, that haven’t had enough community input. The city and county have the power to hit the pause button with a moratorium, and have a thoughtful transparent process with citizen input and more time for regulations to develop…. but that isn’t what is currently happening. Ask the Lee County Commissioners & Sanford for a Moratorium on Data Centers & Fracking! Sign the petition!: Lee County & Sanford: Pass a Moratorium on Fracking & Data Centers Come to the April 21 Sanford City Council Hearing on Data Center Rules – Sanford is holding a public hearing on a set of rules for data centers… and they could VOTE to approve these rules the same night. Click here for talking points! One big reason to pass a moratorium right now, is that there is bipartisan support for removing NC’s data center tax exemption. Cities or counties could miss out on revenue on projects that start before that sale tax exemption is fixed! That is money our local government should get to offset the cost of data centers on our communities. A moratorium gives Sanford time to make sure that any data center that comes… is paying its fair share in taxes! Join your neighbors in calling on the city & county to pass a moratorium on data centers! THERE COULD BE A VOTE ON THE DATA CENTER RULES…. (without a fracking moratorium)… THIS NIGHT. IF THERE WERE ONE MEETING TO GO TO… IT IS THIS ONE!!! Speaker sign up is from 5-5:50pm (here are talking points for your comment!) Hearing is at 6pm. The night before, April 20 at 6pm at the Dennis Wicker Civic Center (1801 Nash St. Sanford), is the Lee County Commissioners Meeting. Come and ask them, “where is the moratorium on data centers and fracking you voted to draft in March?” We still haven’t seen it. Since November, Deep River Data continues to work on their application. Their continued communication with the state geologist was confirmed at the February 3 NC Oil & Gas Commission meeting The county doesn’t need to wait for the application to come in to act. The best time to protect Lee County residents from fracking, drilling, and a data center, is now. You can always email your comments to the county commissioners or Sanford City Council Upcoming Events April 20 at 6pm at the Dennis Wicker Civic Center (1801 Nash St. Sanford), is the Lee County Commissioners Meeting. Come and ask them, “where is the moratorium on data centers and fracking you voted to draft in March?” We still haven’t seen it. April 21 Sanford City Council Hearing on Data Center Rules – 5pm-225 E. Weatherspoon Street, Sanford. (Sign up to speak 5-5:50pm, hearing at 6pm). Sanford is holding a public hearing on a set of rules for data centers… and they could VOTE to approve these rules the same night. If there is one meeting to come to IT IS THIS ONE! Ask for a moratorium, instead of rules written without a real chance for public input or transparency. RSVP here. Share the Facebook event or on Instagram. Remember that there is still construction on Weatherspoon St, so give yourself time for the detour. Spread the Word! Share information on social media: Follow us on Facebook for events you can share Share the Facebook event for the April 21 hearing! Instagram: follow us @cleanwaternc for updates! Share the Instagram post for the April 21 hearing! Share the petition: Lee County & Sanford: Pass a Moratorium on Data Centers & Fracking Resources to educate neighbors: NEW: Talking Points for Sanford City Council Data Center Public Hearing & Vote on 4/21 Flyer with fracking talking points: Lee County No Fracking Data Center Talking Points New Report: Build Before the Bubble Bursts: Understanding the Business Model Behind the Data Center Boom in North Carolina Article that broke this story: A Company Eyes What Would Be North Carolina’s First Commercial Natural Gas Well. Learn how to use Lee County’s interactive map to see what data they have on mineral rights for your property (it may not be up to date!) Data Center Concerns Deep River Data plans to construct a data center to power AI facilities that house servers for data storage and application operation. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? AI performs complex tasks normally handled by humans. Data centers employ very few people and can even take jobs away. For example, HM Tech, the company that owns Deep River Data, has a data center in Graham, NC in Alamance County. This data center uses 11 megawatts of power and the warehouses for its servers cover 60,000 square feet. It only employs 10 people. Data center investments are risky. Experts are starting to warn of an AI bubble, similar to the dot com crash in the 2000s, or the 2008 crash of the housing market. It seems like the bubble is still inflating, and developers are still proposing data centers anywhere they can . There is a risk of overbuilding, and data centers being abandoned when the bubble pops or new, more efficient technology is adopted. Learn more from our new report: Build Before the Bubble Bursts: Understanding the Business Model Behind the Data Center Center Boom in NC They consume tons of energy and strain local water supplies. Backup generators release harmful chemicals into the air that can harm heart and lung health.. Data centers are LOUD, run 24/7, and range from 55-85 decibels (vacuum cleaner or lawn mower). High electric bills. Rising electricity costs are linked to new infrastructure needed for AI data centers, contributing to electricity bills increasing 2x faster than inflation. Why is Lee County an even riskier place to frack or drill? The underground gas in Lee County is very close to the groundwater. The gas well in question is about 2,700 feet deep. The shale formations fracked in Pennsylvania are much deeper. They range from 8.500 feet- to over 12,000 feet below the ground. The groundwater in Lee County is deep – up to 1,000 feet. Fractures are known to travel up to 2,000 feet – greater than the distance between the gas and the groundwater in Lee County. The cracks in this shale, caused by fracking, are large enough to connect the gas & contaminate our groundwater. About Fracking & Drilling What is fracking? Fracking drills deep underground vertically and then horizontally. Toxic chemicals mixed with water, used at high pressures to crack underground shale, frees the gas trapped within. Drilling and fracking can release harmful chemicals into the air affecting health, linked to early death, pregnancy issues, cancer, and respiratory and heart problems. Conventional drilling can potentially contaminate groundwater with methane and pollutants if it cracks underground rock. Methane can dissolve harmful metals like arsenic and iron, making well water unsafe to drink. Fracking can pollute rivers and other water bodies on the surface. Flowback water or spills of chemicals can get into surface water (like the Deep River!) The injection of wastewater underground has been linked to induced seismic activity, including micro-earthquakes. Children living near fracking wells are more likely to get certain cancers like leukemia & lymphoma.
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PRESS RELEASE: New Maps Show Transco & Other Proposed Pipelines’ Threat to Drinking Water in North Carolina and Virginia
CONTACT Stephanie Gans, Assistant Director, steph@cwfnc.org Kernersville, N.C. — On Wednesday, August 27, Clean Water for North Carolina released new, interactive maps highlighting drinking water sources threatened by three proposed methane gas pipelines in North Carolina and Virginia. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company’s proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) Pipeline, crossing through densely populated areas in Guilford and Forsyth Counties, poses the greatest threat to NC drinking water of the three. These maps provide the public with valuable information ahead of public hearings on whether the state should approve SSEP’s 401 water quality certification application. North Carolinians and Virginians near any of the proposed routes can use the maps to identify if their drinking water source is at risk of contamination due to pipeline impacts. SSEP Pipeline is a proposed 42-inch diameter high-pressure, methane gas pipeline. It would cross multiple states, starting in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and out to Coosa County, Alabama. 28.4 miles of new pipe are proposed for North Carolina in Rockingham, Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson counties. It would require the expansion of two gas-fired compressor stations in Iredell and Davidson counties, which would produce air pollution. SSEP’s proposed route puts it close to existing Transco pipelines. In Rockingham County, the pipeline would follow closely along the proposed route for Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate, crossing many of the same waterways, also magnifying the potential for impacts to groundwater. The proposal to install multiple high-pressure, large-diameter pipelines on similar routes has inspired vocal opposition at public hearings. Guilford County passed a resolution citing safety concerns in response. The town of Midway passed a resolution of opposition in May. Community members facing further land seizure by Transco for the SSEP, have expressed skepticism of their safety record and water pollution controls. “I have lived with the three despicable Transco pipelines running through my farm and community for over 60 years. Now, Transco wants to install a fourth pipeline referred to as SSEP.” said, Ron Ray, a resident of Guilford County, “Beaver Creek runs over the pipelines on my farm and has always been a potential source of contamination for water running into the creek, rivers, and waters on to the Atlantic Ocean. The SSEP construction will certainly cause damage to these waterways during construction and increase the risks of severe damage for generations to come. I plead that this project be not permitted for the sake of the health and safety of future generations.” Pollution from pipeline construction or leaks during operation can harm rivers, streams, public water supplies, and private wells all along the route. The pipelines are proposed near communities that have already suffered groundwater contamination from coal ash, in order to supply new gas turbines proposed by Duke Energy in Person and Catawba Counties. “We released these maps to empower residents with information that often stays buried in long permit applications. That way, we can act to protect our communities. Private well users within 1000ft of the proposed pipelines are at risk of contamination of their groundwater or even a decrease in water supply. These maps can help them identify if their wells are at risk.” said Steph Gans, Assistant Director of Clean Water for North Carolina, “Clean water is not the only thing on the line. These pipelines would supply new power plants adding to unhealthy air in communities. They will increase already high gas and electric bills. They threaten drinking water supplies, which could raise water bills. Using methane will worsen climate change, which caused damaging storms like Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Chantal. Both storms imposed huge costs on local water utilities and left North Carolinians without clean drinking water for days or weeks.” The maps show the threat to beloved local waterways across three watersheds: the Roanoke, Cape Fear, and Yadkin-Pee Dee. SSEP would cross the headwaters of the Haw River and the Dan River, which are sources of drinking water for NC communities. They show public water supplies from groundwater, some of which are perilously close to the SSEP pipeline’s route. “Projects like this create irreparable damage on our sensitive aquatic ecosystems and pose serious risks for downstream communities that depend on our rivers and streams for drinking water supplies.” said Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper and Executive Director of Haw River Assembly, “These maps help us to demonstrate the unavoidable damage the SSEP project would cause if these permits are approved. This is the opportunity for our communities to show up and have their voices heard to oppose this unnecessary pipeline.” On Thursday, September 4 at 4:30pm, community members and grassroots organizations will hold: No SSEP! Rally to Protect Water in Harmon Park at 152 South Main Street, Kernersville, NC. The rally will take place before a public hearing on SSEP’s water quality certification application held by the NC Department of Environmental Quality. The hearing starts at 6 p.m. in the Kernersville Municipal Council Chambers, 134 East Mountain Street, Kernersville, NC. Private well users along the route welcomed the maps. “I’m glad this information will be available as I am definitely impacted by the proposed pipeline.” said Diana Garrison, a Guilford County resident, “I live in a neighborhood close to the pipeline, so all the homeowners’ wells are impacted by any leakage or seepage of toxins. Williams says they check to make sure their pipeline is safe, but we have yet to see anyone walking along pipeline in our area.” To view interactive maps of the SSEP, MVP Southgate, and T-15 pipeline routes visit cwfnc.org/nc-pipelines. The maps use data from a variety of public sources, including FracTracker Alliance, a non-profit organization educating the public about the risks from oil and gas projects. The maps show public water supplies, land within 1000ft of the proposed pipelines, the potential blast zone in the event of a pipeline accident, and drinking water sources at risk of pollution from all three pipelines. ### About Clean Water for North Carolina Clean Water for North Carolina is a non-profit promoting clean, safe water and environments and empowered, just communities for all North Carolinians through outreach, advocacy, education, and technical assistance. cwfnc.org About Haw River Assembly Haw River Assembly is a 501(c)(3) non-profit citizens’ group founded in 1982 to restore and protect the Haw River and Jordan Lake, and to build a watershed community that shares this vision. Our goals are to promote environmental education, conservation and pollution prevention; to speak as a voice for the river in the public arena; and to put into peoples’ hands the tools and the knowledge they need to be effective guardians of the river. hawriver.org Note: this press release was corrected to have the right month for Midway’s resolution opposing SSEP.
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After Chantal: Taking Action in North Durham & Person Counties
Flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal in North Durham County In North Durham & Person Counties, our rivers & electric bills just got higher than ever. Join us for a virtual meeting on what we can do this JULY to protect ourselves from climate disasters & higher electric bills. Thursday, July 16 – 6:00-6:50pm via Zoom Register here! Join Clean Water for North Carolina for this virtual meeting! You’ll: Connect with other like-minded people in North Durham City/County & Person County Learn why right now, North Durham & Person have a chance to make a difference for our climate, utility bills, and water. Register today!
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PFAS Water Protections Facing Threat Under New EPA Head
The Cape Fear River is one of the best known drinking water sources contaminated with PFAS. However, it is far from the only groundwater or surface water in NC that is polluted with PFAS. PFAS Water Protections Facing Threat Under New EPA Head PFAS, often called “forever chemicals” are toxic substances found in products like nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, and even our drinking water. These chemicals leach into our soil, water, and bodies. Leading to serious health risks, including cancer and immune system damage. Despite concerns from communities across the country, Lee Zeldin’s EPA mentioned last month that it plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. This kind of rollback is a dangerous step backward. To better highlight why PFAS are such an issue and need more regulation, one of our CWFNC volunteers, Ava Silver, wrote a brief article about PFAS and their risks. PFAS- What You Should Know PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals,” are man-made substances used in a wide range of products because they are extremely long-lasting. Since the 1940s, they’ve been used in everyday items like clothing, carpets, and food packaging. The problem? PFAS don’t break down easily in the environment and they build up in our bodies over time. The main way people are exposed to PFAS is through drinking water, and studies show that most Americans already have some level of PFAS in their systems. Long-term exposure to PFAS in drinking water has been linked to serious health problems, including: ● Increased cholesterol levels ● Liver damage ● Higher risk of thyroid disease ● High blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy ● Small decreases in infant birth weight ● Weaker immune response to vaccines in children ● Higher risk of certain cancers On April 10, 2024, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) finalized new drinking water standards that limit six different PFAS compounds. Public water systems across the country—including in North Carolina— had five years to meet these new standards. After Lee Zeldin took over the EPA, four of the drinking water standards were removed, and the timeline for compliance on the other two increased by two years. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) is taking steps to identify and reduce PFAS contamination in our state. They’re also working to create regulatory standards that better protect our water and communities. On April 22, they held a public hearing on proposed updates to the state’s water quality rules. Many people across North Carolina spoke up, urging for stronger, science-based protections. Some of their recommendations included: ● Expanding E. coli monitoring to include both Class B and Class C recreational waters ● Setting a numeric limit for toxic PFAS in surface waters ● Maintaining a strong science-based standard for 1,4-dioxane ● Increasing monitoring of microplastics and their effects PFAS don’t just affect people, they impact the whole of our environment. These chemicals can enter the food chain, harming animals and disrupting reproduction and health in wildlife, similar to humans. The longer we let PFAS stay in our environment the more dire the situation becomes. As our government works to set better drinking water standards individuals can combat PFAS as well. ● Avoid Products that Contain PFAS ○ Such as non-stick pans, water and stain resistant fabrics, and cosmetics with “fluoro” or “PTFE” chemicals. ● Filter your Drinking Water ○ Use a reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter certified to remove PFAS. ● Raise Awareness ○ Introduce the topic of PFAS in classroom and educational settings. While previous exposure to PFAS can’t be undone, continued advocacy and awareness can help persuade our government to take further steps to prevent additional exposure to these forever chemicals. References: The Environmental Protection Agency Delays Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water – NPR State ‘forever chemicals’ spotlight: North Carolina’s drinking water contamination | Environmental Working Group PFAS in Drinking Water Understanding PFAS | NC DEQ https://www.deq.nc.gov/genx/nc-deq-action-strategy-pfas/open What’s the deal with PFAS, aka ‘forever chemicals’?.
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