28 Miles, One Big Debate: Where the Chatham Pipeline Stands

Hello Chatham County neighbors,

We are updating you today to address one of the most talked-about local topics this fall. Though we are not here to advocate for any one side, we do want you to have the facts, because it may matter to anyone who owns, buys or sells land in the area. 

Enbridge Gas North Carolina has proposed a 28-mile, 12-inch natural gas pipeline. It would run roughly from Siler City to the Moncure area, near Jordan Lake and the Haw River. The company says it is needed to serve rising residential and business demand in Chatham and Lee counties. Chatham’s population has grown about 21% since 2016.

Enbridge says the pipeline is sized for regional growth, not for any single customer. It has also said safety will be a priority in construction and operation, including monitoring and maintenance. A company spokesperson told WUNC the line is too small to serve a data center. The final route has not been set. It will depend on field surveys, environmental studies and engineering analysis, and Enbridge says each surveyed landowner has been assigned an agent to discuss concerns. The company has surveyed about 200 landowners so far.

Hundreds of residents, many of them farmers, retirees and longtime landowners, have objected at public meetings and online. Their concerns include:

• possible effects on drinking-water wells, streams and wetlands
• long-term limits on building and farming from the permanent easement, reported at about 50 feet wide
• possible health risks near pipelines
• whether the burden falls on lower-income rural areas while the growth it serves is elsewhere in the county
• the company’s record elsewhere, including a 2019 Kentucky pipeline rupture and 2010 oil spills in Michigan and Illinois, which ended in a $177 million federal settlement

Some residents also suspect the line is meant to serve a proposed data center that many oppose. Enbridge denies this. The company declined KFF Health News’s interview request about the route and its safety record.

• In September, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to oppose the project.
• The state Department of Environmental Quality had not received a permit application as of this week’s reporting, and Enbridge can’t apply until it settles on a route.
• Under North Carolina law, utilities can obtain easements, which let them build and maintain pipelines without owning the land. Enbridge has also gone to court over survey access on at least one property.
• Enbridge has said it hopes to start construction in fall 2027, if permits are granted.

No one yet knows the final route, and sources differ on what the effect on property values might be. One landowner told reporters that buyers lost interest in her parcels once the pipeline became known. We haven’t seen data on how the project would affect values overall. If you own land, are thinking of buying, or plan to sell, here are some practical steps:

1. Look at your title and any recorded easements. An existing easement can limit how land is used.
2. If you receive a survey request or letter, read it closely. Consider talking with a real estate attorney before signing anything.
3. Ask about utility corridors when you’re buying acreage or rural property.
4. Follow the process. Enbridge’s project page, county commissioner meetings and DEQ permit filings are the best places for updates.

Whatever your view of the pipeline, we’re glad to talk through how it could affect your plans. We’re here if you want to look at a specific property or parcel.

Sources: North Carolina Health News/KFF Health News (Oct. 20, 2026); The News & Observer; WUNC; ABC11.

This information is for general information and is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a licensed attorney or other professional about your own situation.