UNION HILL, Va. (AP) — The Associated Press reported that former Vice President Al Gore urged residents of a historic African-American community in Virginia on Tuesday to continue their fight against a plan to build a natural gas pipeline compressor station in their neighborhood.
Gore and social justice advocate the Rev. William Barber II met with residents of Union Hill, a rural community about 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Richmond that was founded by emancipated slaves after the Civil War.
The visit by Gore and Barber — part of an environmental justice tour — came weeks after a racial scandal rocked state government when both Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring acknowledged wearing blackface in the 1980s.
“This proposed pipeline is a reckless, racist rip-off,” Gore said.
He said Northam should fulfill his promise for racial reconciliation by opposing the pipeline project.
“This is an ideal opportunity for him to say, ‘I’ve seen the light,’” Gore said.
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline would run 600 miles (965 kilometers) and carry fracked natural gas from West Virginia into Virginia and North Carolina.
Opponents are concerned that exhaust from the 54,000-horsepower compressor station would hurt low-income and elderly residents living in Union Hill. Supporters say it will boost development.
Compressor stations are used to power interstate natural gas pipelines, moving gas through the system.
Some residents of Union Hill, while not in favor of the project, have come to accept it.
Dominion has offered to give more than $5 million to help improve Union Hill.
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I’ve never had a discussion w/Al Gore. If I had, I would have asked him to not go away angry, but to just go away. The inconvenient truth about this man is that he is a bloated egomaniac whose policies and ideas help no one but himself.
A local mayor , Mr. Ooker Eskridge showed Mr. Gore to be a carpetbagger of the modern kind. While our weather and therefore environment is changing, Ooker challenged Mr. Gore on natl. t.v. that he has been taking measurements of water levels on Tangier for decades, and told him face to face that Gore is wrong and levels aren’t rising. Storm effects are eroding The Island. THAT is the problem. Gore had no local knowledge and no valid response.
Mr. Gore has sold many on his fears of Armageddon coming unless we listen to him. He has also signed on to represent a few “environmental companies” that just so happen to sell new technologies that fight global warming. I think he’s a crock. There is no proof that anything we do will help this evolution of weather. Now don’t take me wrong. I don’t support any negligence in the use of our environment at all. I support all responsible decisions to care for our natural resources. Just don’t try to scare me into spending big money.
What I do support is listening to our local folks right up the street here at NASA. You know, Wallops Island. They are one of the largest gatherers of weather info for all around the world. Their report on weather conditions a short time ago came out and said the world is showing a drastic lowering of temperature the last 2 years in a row. I repeat, the last 2 years in a row. So, is the fire insurance salesman Al Gore right, or is NASA ?
So when it comes to pipeline knowledge and important changes to local residents, I sure as the sun will rise tomw. would not listen to Al Gore. His opinion isn’t valid. It’s just for sale.
I hope the residents out there by the pipeline are able to affect their future and they do the proper research to find out what has happened to localities when this type of change becomes reality. You know, make an informed decision. I seriously doubt that this is a racist decision. Al Gore has no scruples.
there goes good paying jobs, jobs badly needed by Blacks to elevate them into a better standard of living.
This is a a anti President Trump proposal and not an environmental concern, chemicals used for Farming is more a danger to the health of the population then a pipe line.
The Democratic hate of President Trump is far greater then the concerns of the poor of Eastern Shore.