Category Archives: Central Corridor Pipeline

Duke Energy Delays Pipeline

Great news for everyone who has voiced concerns about Duke’s proposed pipeline. Duke has indicated they are postponing filing their formal application with the Ohio Power Siting Board. This does not mean they have changed their mind or their plans for the pipeline. However, it may indicate that Duke has actually heard concerns being expressed by NOPE! and members of the communities affected by the pipeline. We must continue to be steadfast in our opposition to any plans that involve dangerous, high pressure natural gas lines through densely populated areas.

Duke Energy Delays Controversial Pipeline – Cincinnati.com 6.29.2016

Letter to the Editor – Northeast Suburban Life

Download copy of article

San Bruno Coverage As it Happened – September 9, 2010

The natural gas pipeline San Bruno, CA provides a good indication of what could happen in our communities if there is a pipeline failure. The pipeline that exploded on September 9, 2010 was a 30″ pipeline, with about half the pressure of Duke’s proposed pipeline. People initially thought there was a plane crash. The explosion happened in a densely populated residential community, just like the ones is our area where Duke plans to build the pipeline.

San Bruno, CA – Pipeline Disaster in Populated Area

This is a sobering illustration of what would happen in our communities if Duke’s high pressure natural gas line failed. This 30″ transmission line, just like the one Duke is proposing, was not installed in a densely populated area. The community developed after the pipeline was installed as a result of urban sprawl. Why would Duke even consider creating a situation like this here?

Watch this. This is why we are concerned.

San Bruno Analysis – 5 Years Later

Duke Energy Pipeline: What You Need to Know

Duke’s Central Corridor Pipeline — Unnecessary, Irresponsible and an Unfair Burden to Southwest Ohio

About the Central Corridor Pipeline:

Duke’s Central Corridor Pipeline Extensions Project is a 13 mile long, high pressure, natural gas distribution system. It includes a 20″ diameter, 500 psi pipeline to move a massive amount of natural gas right next to people’s homes, businesses, schools and daycare centers, parks and recreation areas, and places where lots of people tend to congregate.

Don’t I already have gas pipelines connected to my home and under my streets?

Yes, but they are much smaller and operate at very low pressure. For perspective, service lines that are connected to your home tend to be 1/2 – 1 1/2 inches with only a few pounds of pressure.

Will this pipeline deliver gas to homes and businesses?

No. The Central Corridor Pipeline moves gas from station to station. It is intended to transport large volumes of gas, at high pressures along a 13 mile long, north-to-south corridor that ultimately links Duke’s Ohio and Kentucky systems.

Why should I be concerned?

Everyone who lives or works in Southwest Ohio could be affected in some way by this project. Thousands of residents, elected officials and leaders from businesses, non profits and faith based organizations oppose this project for a variety of reasons, including safety concerns, financial and environmental impact, infringement on the rights of property owners, etc.

Concerns About Pipeline Safety

Compressed natural gas is easily ignitable and highly explosive. That is why high pressure pipelines, such as this one, are not usually built new through high consequence areas (HCA’s) where a pipeline rupture could lead to catastrophic consequences including serious injuries and deaths. See NOPE’s Mapping Tool to learn more.

Duke will have safety precautions in place. However, incidents involving pipelines happen regularly. Third party damage is of particular concern in urban areas like ours. Preventative measures, like Call Before You Dig, are not sufficient to protect us from backhoes and construction equipment.

About Duke’s Central Corridor Pipeline

The gas lines that serve individual homes are typically just a few inches in diameter and do not operate at high pressures. A transmission line moves large quantities of natural gas across long distances at high pressures.

Why should we be concerned?

Building this pipeline is a major undertaking, requiring at least a 30-foot clearing on either side of the pipeline to bury it underground. Trees, natural habitats, roads and even people’s property may be unnecessarily destroyed in order to lay this pipeline.

The potential for safety hazards is much higher for high pressure pipelines, particularly in densely populated areas. The San Bruno pipeline explosion in 2010, and the 2016 explosion near Pittsburgh, are examples of how high-pressure transmission lines can lead to serious injury and death. It is shocking that Duke now wants to run one of these pipelines through residential areas, next to schools and daycare centers, through parks and green spaces and in some cases, right outside the front door of people’s homes. No pipeline of this size and pressure currently exists in the area where Duke intends to build.

Where exactly will the pipeline be located?

Duke has proposed two routes, both of which run through Blue Ash. Other affected areas include Evendale, Madeira, Kenwood, Sycamore Township, Amberley, and Reading. To learn more about the proposed routes, click here.

Why has Duke proposed this project?

Duke claims that it is trying to serve the area, and that this project will allow the company to retire propane-powered “peak shaving” facilities that provide extra energy during peak demand. Based upon NOPE’s analysis, the “peak shaving” facilities can be repaired or replaced for far less money than the cost of this $100 million pipeline. Additionally, the proposed project would supply far more gas than is necessary to meet current and forecasted demand.

Therefore, this pipeline is unnecessary, irresponsible and not in the best interest of our communities.

NOPE’s objective is to ensure that if new natural gas infrastructure is necessary for our area, that it be handled safely and responsibly.

Who ultimately approves this project?

The final decision rests with the Ohio Power Siting Board, which is part of the state’s Public Utilities Commission. The board staff will review Duke’s application, and make recommendations to the Board members, which will also conduct a public hearing.

What can I do about it?

Write a letter of opposition to the Ohio Power Siting Board. The more feedback they get, the better chance we have of deterring Duke’s plans. More details here.
You can also contact Duke Energy at [email protected]. They will answer some questions, and must also summarize residents’ concerns in their application to the Ohio Power Siting board.
Contact your local, state, and federal government officials and ask them to get involved.
Finally, join NOPE! We need help alerting the community and raising opposition to this unprecedented pipeline project, and would love to have your input and support.

Join NOPE! Cincy

Contacting Duke Energy

Duke Energy has set up a special phone number and email address for you to use to learn about the pipeline and discuss concerns. So far, they have not been particularly responsive or transparent, but maybe if enough people ask questions and demand answers they will respond.

[email protected]

Central Corridor Pipeline HOTLINE – 513-287-2130

There are many things that you could discuss with Duke Energy to express you feelings about the proposed pipeline. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Explain how the pipeline will affect you, personally. Help them understand the human toll associated with their project.
Ask any questions you have to deepen your understanding about the project
Express your concern about the pipeline being routed through densely populated residential areas
Communicate displeasure with Duke’s lack of transparency about the plans, motivations behind the plans, decision making process, secrecy, etc.
Ask about other alternatives for routing and why they were rejected or whether they would be willing to consider revisiting those options
Communicate your anger about Duke’s abuse of power through the use of eminent domain

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Writing Letters to the Editor

Why you should write letters to the editor

Writing a letter to the editor (LTE) of your local or regional newspaper is an effective and easy way to reach a large audience, including government officials and corporations, with your message. Here’s why:

The editorial page is one of the most read pages in the paper
Congressional staffers monitor editorial page so they can keep a ‘pulse’ on issues of importance to their constituents
You can reach both a wide public audience and your elected officials with the same effort
They often influence news content when lots of letters on the same topic are written

Here are tips on writing letters to the editor:

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April 29, 2016 Natural Gas Transmission Line Explosion

It was like looking into hell” – First responder

Date: April 29, 2016, 8:00 am

Location: Rural Salem, PA (31 sq. mi radius/pop. 6,500)

Injuries: Richard Johnston did not come into contact with any flames. The heat from the explosion was so intense, it burned him inside his home ¼ mile away from the explosion.

Damage Description: 12 foot deep hole, 1500 sq. feet; scorched 44 acres

Issues: First responders could not get out of their emergency vehicles ¼ mile from explosion because heat was so intense.

Answers Elusive in Salem, PA Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion

Local eyes fixed on Spectra gas pipeline explosion/

Man burned in Salem Twp. gas line explosion; homes, businesses evacuated

Pipelines drained, evacuation order lifted as feds investigate cause of Salem Township explosion

PA Pipeline explosion: Evidence of corrosion found

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High Pressure Transmission Lines

A transmission line is kind of like a super highway for moving massive amounts of gas across great distances. The proposed transmission line through Hamilton County will either be supplied by similar transmission lines originating in the south, or transmission lines from the Utica and Marcellus shales.

The lines in your neighborhood are service lines, not transmission lines. While size varies, service lines typically range from ½ – 2 inches in diameter. The pressure in the service line when it reaches your house is less than 1 PSI. Duke’s proposed 30 inch transmission pipe is a high pressure line containing 720 PSI in a single 1 inch cube. But the real measure of the pressure in the pipeline is what is called total force…that equals 507,000 psi’s and a major explosion if the pipeline were to fail and ignite.

Join NOPE! Cincy

Contacting Government Officials

When you reach out to express concerns to your local, state and even federal officials you may hear the same initial response we got, “There is nothing we can do”. Technically, this is true, but only from a legal standpoint. Utility companies like Duke Energy have been given the blanket privilege of “Emminent Domain”, which basically means they can do anything they want with your property and the property of your local municipality, as long as it is for “the greater good”. Speaking with a representative from the Ohio Power Siting Board, there is only one project that he can ever recall not qualifying as being for “the greater good”.

Do not let them get away with this response. We have spoken with many local and state government officials who have been more than willing to intervene on our behalf. They can certainly express objections about the pipeline to the Ohio Power Siting Board, as State Representative Jonathan Dever has on our behalf. They can also connect you with other citizens being impacted by the pipeline, leverage their communication tools to educate and inform the public, work with other municipalities to create a united front, and solicit feedback from other cities who have gone through or are going through this process to see what they have learned.