A new opposition group has formed in response to a proposed 53,515 horsepower (hp) natural gas fired compressor station and is asking county leaders to deny a permit request to construct the facility.

Concern for the New Generation (CNG) is comprised of concerned citizens from the Union Hill and Union Grove areas of Buckingham, near the proposed location of the compressor station.

The Buckingham County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a requested special use permit on Monday at 7 p.m. concerning the facility (see “Hearing on permit is Monday” on A1).

Dominion is leading the joint venture — Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) LLC — seeking approval of the 600-mile pipeline, which, if approved by federal regulators, would begin in West Virginia, span Virginia and end in North Carolina. A large portion of the pipeline would cross Buckingham County and smaller portions of Prince Edward and Cumberland counties.

CNG held a press conference announcing its formation just hours after ACP announced it had signed a construction contract with Spring Ridge Constructors LLC (SRC), a joint venture of leading natural gas pipeline construction companies.

During its press conference on the Buckingham Courthouse steps, CNG called for a “community veto” of the compressor station, citing the Code of Virginia and the state’s constitution.

CNG member Paul Wilson, pastor of Union Hill and Union Grove Baptist churches, said both churches would be within one-half mile of the compressor station. He said out of the 250 members of the two churches, 200 live in direct proximity to the station. Wilson said 60 percent of the adjacent landowners to the station were members of his churches.

“We are at ground zero,” he said, claiming the gas industry didn’t have a good safety record. “We’re not the idiots big businesses think that we are.”

Wilson questioned and expressed concern over the noise levels, emissions and location of the station.

“They’re just destroying our area,” Wilson said. “It’s going to destroy our church. It’s going to destroy our community and destroy our way of life. I guess I might have to start looking for another church, so to speak, (if) this pipeline comes.”

He said 50 percent of those who attend his church have health issues.

Ruby Laury, who lives near Union Hill, said Buckingham was a beautiful place to live.

“I have many concerns, as I am sure others have that live in my community,” Laury said.

He expressed concern for the water quality in her neighborhood. “What’s going to happen when the underground pipes leak? If this compressor station goes through, we won’t be able to drink the water.”

Union Hill resident Kathie Mosley said the younger generation, who will become parents, “have to rely on this water to be able to feed their children.”

“Most everybody on my road, we all have health issues,” Mosley said.

CNG said it would work in conjunction with Friends of Buckingham, a group opposed to the entire ACP project.

According to a release from ACP, it selected SRC as the most-qualified contractor for the project after an extensive, competitive bidding process.

“We are excited to work with SRC, which has assembled four of the nation’s leading and most-qualified pipeline builders for this project,” Dominion Energy President Diane Leopold said in the release. “These companies have extensive experience in building large-scale, complex projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, and their commitment to safe construction practices and best-in-class standards align with our expectations for the project.”