Guilford County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on SSEP 9-0!

I'm excited to let you know that on June 5th, World Environment Day, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on SSEP 9-0! Congratulations to all the organizers involved in getting Guilford County to pass a bipartisan resolution stating that they have safety concerns over SSEP. They'll be submitting the resolution to FERC and the NC General Assembly. You can find a recording of the meeting here. (As of writing, the recording has not been posted yet.) 

“We have presented to you a diverse range of folks who are concerned across Guilford County, more than 1,000 different voices have voiced their opposition to the project, representing different ages, political backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and yes, even folks with conflicting views on renewable energy.

… But we have one thing in common: demanding action from our elected officials to protect us from corporate greed for unnecessary and dangerous projects like SSEP. So, thank you for taking action tonight. We appreciate you listening to us.” - Aidan Loretz

Commissioner Brandon Gray-Hill then introduced the resolution before the Board voted on it. The County's resolution is attached below. While this resolution could have been stronger (explicit opposition, asking for an EIS, etc.), this is still a great victory for our efforts! A unanimous, bipartisan resolution on an issue like this is a BIG DEAL! 

The commissioners’ resolution is the second of its kind – the town of Midway voted to oppose the project on May 5, urging Transco “to thoroughly investigate the option of a no-build alternative and to publicly report the findings with full detail and transparency.” The commissioner’s focus on safety concerns comes as news comes out that the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline fired an inspector for reporting corrosion of the pipe that could have led to an explosion. MVP’s Southgate extension would run parallel to SSEP.

In response, the Sierra Club, 7 Directions of Service, Haw River Assembly, and Mothers Out Front released the following statements:

“Transco cannot continue to claim this proposed project is in the public interest when so much of the public opposes it. First, Midway, now Guilford County– the tide is turning on support for dirty methane gas infrastructure. The public, and now elected officials, are seeing through corporate greenwashing and projects that don't benefit local residents,” said Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist with the Sierra Club. “The proposed SSEP project is dangerous and unnecessary. We hope other communities continue this trend of taking action to protect and defend their residents.”

“The Guilford Commissioners’ resolution proves the power we have as everyday people, " said Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, Co-Founder of 7 Directions of Service. “Educating our neighbors, making calls, and giving public comments have brought to light the needless risks Transco’s SSEP poses, and the Commissioners thankfully chose to respond to the facts before them in a meaningful way. There are more towns and counties facing SSEP, and it’s time those elected leaders look at the facts, listen to their constituents, and pass a No SSEP resolution!”

“Mothers across North Carolina are speaking up because this project puts our children’s health and safety at risk,” said Jenny Zimmer, Guilford County parent and Co-Executive Director of Mothers Out Front. “Pipelines like SSEP threaten the air our kids breathe, the water they drink, and the communities they call home. Guilford County’s resolution demanding a real assessment of how dirty methane projects will impact our community shows what is possible when families come together to protect what matters most. We urge other local leaders to pass resolutions against the SSEP and put our children first.”

Efforts in Guilford County will not stop as community members continue to hold the Oak Ridge town council accountable for representing their community's voice, as well as continuing to pressure elected officials throughout Guilford County to stay informed and active with this proposed project. On to Forsyth!