Advocates organize 'funeral' after Bernheim loses push against LG&E pipeline construction
Advocates organize 'funeral' after Bernheim loses push against LG&E pipeline construction

Advocates organize ‘funeral’ after Bernheim loses push against LG&E pipeline construction

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Advocates organize ‘funeral’ after Bernheim loses push against LG&E pipeline construction

Activists from the Louisville area gathered at Waterfront Park July 20 to mourn the construction of a natural gas pipeline. Demonstrators expressed concerns about the pipeline’s environmental impact and its potential to fuel energy-intensive industries like data centers. LG&E maintains the pipeline is necessary for reliable power and economic development in the region. “It’s a death by a thousand cuts,” said Terrell Holder, chair of the Sierra Club Kentucky executive committee. “This is a small pipeline in a small rural area, but it’s going to transform the economy along (Interstate 65),” Holder said. “I ask our utility today to become the utility we need, instead of the one that we have,” Elisa Owen said.

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AI-assisted summary Demonstrators expressed concerns about the pipeline’s environmental impact and its potential to fuel energy-intensive industries like data centers.

LG&E maintains the pipeline is necessary for reliable power and economic development in the region.

Environmental activists from the Louisville area gathered at Waterfront Park July 20 to mourn the construction of a 12-mile natural gas pipeline in Bullitt County, which is on land that was once preserved solely for conservation.

The gathering, dubbed by Sierra Club leaders as a “funeral procession,” concerned LG&E’s acquisition of property within the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Bernheim officials attempted to push back against LG&E’s plans, but the energy company was cleared by Kentucky courts to condemn the land via eminent domain. The contention over the pipeline proposal dates back to 2019.

Pipeline construction began in April following tree-clearing activities in February, LG&E officials previously stated.

In a webpage for the pipeline, company leaders said the project will bring more reliable power to Bullitt County residents and “support continued growth and economic development within the region.”

Now with pipeline construction underway, conservation advocates, with signs reading “Save Bernheim Now” and “No More Pipelines,” marched a short distance while a small band played “Amazing Grace” in a somber tone. Some of the demonstrators also carried a makeshift coffin, which had “Died from Fossil Fuels” and “Died from Corporate Greed” written on its sides.

Advocates said they are concerned the pipeline would contribute to the deterioration of the local ecosystem and encourage business interests the public should be cautious of, namely data centers and the development of artificial intelligence.

“It’s a death by a thousand cuts,” said Terrell Holder, chair of the Sierra Club Kentucky executive committee. “This is a small pipeline in a small rural area, but it’s going to transform the economy along (Interstate 65).”

Holder said artificial intelligence could be a “wonderful” resource, but he also recognizes the computing power needed to keep systems functioning will create a considerable demand for energy.

The Courier Journal previously reported the data centers proposed in Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana, will likely demand hundreds of megawatts of new energy. LG&E officials have said new gas-fired generation and battery storage facilities should be added to keep up with the forecasted demand.

“Whether AI is good for us or not is yet to be seen,” Holder said.

During a speech to attendees of the Waterfront Park demonstration, Elisa Owen, a senior campaign organizer for the Beyond Coal Campaign, said the Bullitt County pipeline development is an example of a utility company placing the interests of corporate shareholders over the desires of customers.

“In the name of the good earth, the good land, the good water, the clean air, I ask our utility today to become the utility we need, instead of the one that we have,” Owen said.

In a statement on its website, LG&E officials said the pipeline “does not run through Bernheim’s recreational areas,” and Bernheim will “continue to have use of the (pipeline) area” after construction is complete.

Reporter Connor Giffin contributed to this story.

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

Source: Courier-journal.com | View original article

Source: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/science/environment/2025/07/21/lge-bullitt-county-pipeline-bernheim-supporters-organize-funeral-in-louisville/85299702007/

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