ROUGEMONT, N.C. (Sept. 8, 2025) — Person County residents, with the help of Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), continue fighting against a controversial rezoning decision made in favor of the proposed Moriah Energy Center (MEC) — which remains an environmental concern.
SCSJ filed a brief Monday with the North Carolina Court of Appeals requesting their lawsuit against the rezoning be heard. The lawsuit, filed in early 2024, challenges Person County’s redesignation of land zoned rural residential and conservation to industrial, including heavy industrial, for Enbridge — formerly Dominion Energy — to build and operate MEC, a liquified methane storage facility.
The rezoning was passed by the Person County Board of Commissioners in December 2023 despite overwhelming community opposition. By the end of last year, nearly all claims were dismissed after Person County and Enbridge attorneys argued the Plaintiffs lacked legal standing. SCSJ appealed the dismissal earlier this year.
“Should this not be remedied in an interlocutory appeal, the Plaintiffs risk never being able to be heard in a meaningful manner,” the brief states. “Already, the facility is being built. If Plaintiffs are forced to wait until the conclusion of proceedings to pursue their rights, it may well be too late. A meaningful hearing after the gas is on the ground and the emissions are in the air is no meaningful hearing at all.”
Click here to read the appellate brief.
The lawsuit and appeal represent Person County residents’ determination to have their voices heard on a rezoning decision that already has and will continue to have a substantial impact on their homes, health, and daily lives. The brief details why plaintiffs legally have the right to be heard on this issue despite efforts from the County and Enbridge to silence them.
“When neighbors stand up to challenge a drastic zoning change that alters the entire character of their community, exposes them to air and water pollution risks, and threatens their way of life, they have a right to be heard, and the County and Enbridge should not have tried to obstruct that right,” said Anna Byers, Senior Counsel for Environmental Justice at SCSJ. “This appeal is about making sure communities have a voice in rezoning decisions — and correcting the process when that voice is ignored.”
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Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
