Community Rallies to Speak Against Proposed SSEP Pipeline: An update from Aidan!
KERNERSVILLE, NC — September 4, 2025
Yesterday, 7 Directions of Service and the NoSSEP Coalition held a Rally to Protect Water to uplift the voices of those directly impacted by the proposed Transco-Williams Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) methane gas pipeline, and to urge NCDEQ (North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality) to deny the project’s key 401 water quality permit.
An intergenerational crowd holding banners and signs reading “No SSEP: All Risks, No Benefits”, heard from a landowner living along the proposed route in Oak Ridge, Forsyth Commissioner At-Large Dan Besse, and local environmental leaders from the Haw River Assembly, POWHR (Protect Our Water, Heritage & Rights), and 7 Directions of Service.
Emily Sutton, the Haw Riverkeeper and Director of the Haw River Assembly, expressed: “The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has the ability to deny this pipeline… it’s so encouraging that we have the power of the people and the community to show that we are being heard. We cannot risk the health and safety of our communities.”
Terry Hammond, Oak Ridge landowner, shared: “I oppose the SSEP due to its potential adverse effects on the safety to my family and my community. Considering Williams’ very poor safety record, I fear our water supply will be at great risk. Water is an extremely valuable resource that we need to protect and not take for granted.”
Seth Harris, Programs Director of 7 Directions of Service, emphasized: “Like my ancestors, the ancient stewards of this land we stand on, I recognize our dependence on clean water. Water is a sacred source of all life and should be treated as a beloved relative… It's past time we do everything in our power to protect our water, and invest in North Carolina’s resilience, not waste money on deadend polluting infrastructure like Transo’s SSEP.”
Following the rally, attendees marched together to the Kernersville Town Hall, to participate in NCDEQ’s public hearing on SSEP’s water quality permit. 22 out of the 24 total speakers commented in opposition to Transco-Williams SSEP, emphasizing a range of concerns from groundwater contamination to health and safety, and the proposal’s proximity to another proposed pipeline, MVP Southgate. Forsyth County Commissioners passed a resolution against SSEP last week, calling for permit denials.
An interactive map of drinking water sources, rivers and streams at risk can be viewed here.
The public has until October 6th to submit comments on SSEP’s water impacts to NCDEQ. A permit decision is expected to be made later this fall. Visit nossep.org for a comment guide, and the latest updates.
As always, this is Aidan wishing community care, light, and love.
Take care of yourselves and each other,
~ Aidan Loretz (they/them, she/her)