Meetings between natural gas companies and NC residents scheduled for this week
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Energy Companies wanting to build a natural gas pipeline through three states heard from property owners and residents in Fayetteville Tuesday night.
There was much finger pointing , lots of questions, and many concerns.
"I hope I get some benefit from it," said landowner Betty White. "I don't want to mess other people's property up."
White was one of more than 100 residents and property owners who scrutinized maps of the proposed natural gas pipeline through North Carolina.
A group of energy companies, including Duke Power, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Dominion Energy, plan to build a 500 mile pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina. It would cut through family farms and property in Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland, and Robeson Counties.
Company officials said they are working on easement agreements with property owners.
"If they are farmers, they can still farm" said Dominion Energy Spokesman Jim Norvelle. "If they raise livestock, they can still raise livestock. They can't build houses or swimming pools on it, but if they want to use it for recreational purposes, deer stands, or four-wheelers, that's OK too."
Duke Power is now tearing down its coal fire plants in North Carolina, and using natural gas turbines. Gas company officials said the pipeline will bring in a wealth of natural gas to the state.
Piedmont Natural Gas Spokesman David Trusty said that could help their customers.
"For the typical customer, this means helping moderate, keeping prices stable, and certainly keep those hiccups from happening that lead to higher prices," said Trusty.
However, some environmental groups said the pipeline is a bad deal for North Carolina. After a huge coal ash spill, Hanah Ehrenreich with the Sustainable Sandhills environmental group said they also worry now about Duke Power's environmental track record.
"They pumped 61 million gallons of coal ash into our sole source of drinking water, and now they have a big pipeline to play with," said Ehrenreich.
Some property owners, like Neil Yarbarough, said they are not giving up without a fight.
"We don't know how much success there is to opposing the pipeline, but we are certainly going to oppose the taking of our property," said Yarbarough.
Two other public meetings are scheduled later this week. One is Wednesday evening in Johnston County. The other is in Halifax County on Thursday evening.
