Embracing Cycles of Grief and Joy: Your Final 2025 Pipeline Update
Happy Winter Holiday, everyone.
This will be my final big blog post of 2025. And with it, I want to express the utmost gratitude for each and every single one of you involved in the fight against new pipelines and fossil fuel projects through and near our beautiful watershed. Today’s message comes with the dichotomy of radical grief and radical joy.
Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Southgate Approved:
To get the sad news out of the way, it is with a heavy heart that I share that at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) monthly meeting on December 18th, they sadly unanimously approved the amendment to MVP Southgate to change the route, pipe diameter, and gas-carrying capacity.
Please check out Appalachian Voices’ press release here.
We at Haw River Assembly deeply appreciate the work that our community and our coalition partners have done, and continue to do, to oppose this terrible project. The fight against this dirty, dangerous pipeline does not end here. Stay up to date on what’s next at stopmvpsouthgate.com
A SSEP Reminder ~ Contact Governor Stein!
Our advocacy is working! The Office of the Governor has received hundreds of calls, social media tags, and messages about the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) pipeline. It has been the number one topic for multiple days over the past weeks! Let’s keep it up!
We’re targeting Governor Stein to use the power he has between now and then to encourage denial of these permits!!!
This weekend: Please fill out this form and use the sample text below asking him to deny permits. (Imagine Governor Stein getting hundreds more messages like this over the course of this weekend?!)
Be on the lookout! The NoSSEP coalition has an ongoing social media campaign targeting Governor Stein. Keep an eye on HRA socials!
Sample message to Governor Stein using this form:
Dear Governor Stein,
I have seen local governments such as Midway, Guilford County, Greensboro, Forsyth County, and Davidson County express concern and ask FERC to deny Transco's proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project a Certificate, and I join those voices.
I am concerned about the proposed gas pipeline buildout in the South, which is unnecessary and would harm natural resources and communities. The construction of this project would pollute waterways and harm habitat for aquatic species along the pipeline route. Notably, the proposed SSEP crosses waterways in the Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds, which together provide drinking water for more than one million North Carolinians. In addition, portions of the SSEP pipeline would be co-located with Mountain Valley Pipeline's proposed Southgate project, which would exacerbate water quality impacts.
I am also concerned that Transco has not proposed to install electric motor-driven compressors at Stations 150 and 155 in North Carolina, as it has done in Virginia, Alabama, and South Carolina, and instead proposes to install polluting methane gas-fired combustion turbines. FERC needs to thoroughly analyze the project's air quality impacts, including on communities near the compressor stations that are already overburdened by pollution.
Please deny the project air and water permits for this unneeded proposed methane pipeline.
Thank you,
(Your Name)
Reflecting on 2025 NoSSEP Work
We must balance the sadness and despair with coming together as a community to refill our cups, reenergize our spirits, and lead with love.
Tuesday's Pipeline Fighters' Celebration was a wonderful night full of good conversation, delicious food, hearty laughs, brilliant reflections, deep appreciation, and song! Two dozen Pipeline Fighters from across North Carolina, brought together by NoSSEP, NoMVP, and NoT15 work, gathered together to celebrate 2025's accomplishments.
A huge shoutout to my fellow organizers, Juhi, Claire, Erika, Samantha, Crystal, Jessica, Jose, and especially Hope, for the role each of them played in making this event a tremendous success!
Tuesday's Pipeline Fighters’ Celebration listening to speaker.
Some NoSSEP Success statistics for 2025:
10,000+ public participants
DOZENS of organizers
100+ organizations and community groups
A wave of FIRST-TIME and YOUNGER participants
5 Resolutions Against SSEP from local governments in 6 months
Town of Midway, Guilford County, Forsyth County, City of Greensboro, and Davidson County
25+ earned and impactful news stories highlighting community opposition and the growing call for scrutiny of the proposed SSEP pipeline
Here's to more reflection & growth, fights & good trouble, community building over tasty food & radical joy, and the endless Zoom meetings of our No Pipelines coalition! Stay up to date and involved through HRA socials and nossep.org
Communities Over Pipelines. Communities Over Corporate Profits. Communities First.
Together, we are stronger. Together, we will win.
As always, this is Aidan wishing community care, light, and love.
Take care of yourselves and each other,
~ Aidan Loretz (they/them, she/her)