These last 3 years of fighting the approval of the Atlantic Coast pipeline, we have constantly heard from our elected officials that “there is nothing I can do” and “it’s a federal issue”. I think it is time for them to step aside and make room for people who will take the responsibility of representing their neighbors, friends and family, instead of just thinking of us as nameless constituents. It is completely untrue that there is nothing these politicians can do, it’s just that they don’t want to. They don’t want to jeopardize the gravy train that is Dominion giving campaign donations, to both sides of the aisle.
I have had many personal interactions with Gov. Terry McAuliffe. He constantly states there is nothing he can do to stop these pipelines but also that he wouldn’t want to anyway because he supports both the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. He ignorantly thinks they will bring a massive number of jobs, when in actuality there will be less than 40 long-term, post-construction jobs, statewide. Earlier this year, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who, like McAuliffe, is a Democrat, stopped the construction of the Constitution Pipeline by refusing to issue the needed water permits. McAuliffe, though, is selling out our natural resource that will be taken from our farms and recreation and will dramatically lower the water table overall.
Our delegates, depending on where exactly you live, Dickie Bell, Steve Landes, Creigh Deeds, all of them keep saying they’ve written letters to FERC and that was “all they can do”. While we do appreciate their letters, they could do so much more. They could sponsor and/or support legislation to protect private property rights so landowners could have control over what happens on their land. In my opinion, it is completely un-American to allow a for-profit company to steal your land. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine could take back the enormous power they gave gas companies to invoke eminent domain, and they can stand up for the National Forests being radically threatened by these pipeline projects. Congressman Bob Goodlatte and State Sen. Emmett Hanger could strengthen protections of our water, fighting to fund our regulatory agencies and to strengthen their power to stand up for the environment and for access to safe, clean water.
This pipeline issue is not just about it being a short-sighted, dirty, fracked-gas pipeline, this is about who we are as a state. Are we willing to give up our and our neighbors private property rights for this pipeline? Are we going to stand by while the already wealthy get even richer off us having to live with this threat and destruction every day?
Since it is obvious that our elected officials will not stand up for us, we need everyone that opposes this pipeline to get involved in any way you can. Please vote no pipeline in every election, and support no pipeline candidates. Support your neighbors who are dealing with the thought of this pipeline destroying their lives and the hopelessness they feel in fighting the powerful entity of Dominion. This pipeline issue is a deep rooted, complex issue, please take a moment to reflect, what if it were you? What if a 42 inch pipeline (a little bit larger than the diameter of a hula-hoop) was proposed to come 100 feet from your house? Land you’ve lived at for 30 years, paid taxes on, raised your kids, rolled in the grass with your dog, made a lifetime of memories, was being taken? What if your land was in the proposed path and you are being offered a portapotty during construction because it’s almost guaranteed that you will lose your water supply during construction, if not forever, in which you’ll get a water buffalo permanently in your front yard. This is a reality for affected landowners.
Jennifer Lewis is a member of Friends of Augusta, a civic group that opposes the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. She lives in Waynesboro.
The News Virginian – Jennifer Lewis – 07/19/2017
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