Displaying items by tag: local control fossil fuel

This pumping station in Dickson County was the site of a 1992 gas line rupture. John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout

Bill eliminating local oversight of fossil-fuel infrastructure passes state Senate at behest of fuel companies, now on to House

This story was originally published by Tennessee Lookout.

UPDATE: The state House approved the bill March 29 with moderating amendments sought by local governments and environmental and social justice advocates.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Senate passed a controversial pipeline preemption bill on Thursday in spite of concerns about the effect oil and gas pipelines could have on personal property and drinking water.

Before passage, Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, sponsor of SB2077, amended the bill to allow for wellhead protections and to align with its House counterpart. Critics still contended that with local governments lacking the ability to regulate fossil fuel infrastructure, communities could do little to protect themselves from unwanted pipelines.