Reflections on the Successful Movement to Stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project was the plan of Duke and Dominion Energy to run a 600-mile fracked-gas pipeline through West Virginia, Virginia and allegedly ending in North Carolina. Although the ACP had state and federal government support plus the backing of two huge corporations, it was opposed by various Indigenous tribes, environmentalists, farmers, and a wide range of community organization agencies, statewide and regional environmental groups, and environmental law firms. The wisest commentators predicted that the pipeline would achieve a successful completion, but to the shock of many stakeholders, Duke and Dominion Energy cancelled the ACP project on July 5, 2020. Within our research, we assess the pipeline’s defeat and explain multiple factors that terminated this multibillion dollar project. This study demonstrates the use of both quantitative and qualitative research and analysis. The information derived from our analysis can be generalized and employed in: (1) establishing effective and successful opposition against expanding the use of fossil fuels; and (2) promoting environmental, energy, and climate concerns and the rapid shift needed to clean, renewable energy sources.