Conroe officials have taken formal steps to oppose construction of a Blackfin natural gas compressor site, hiring outside attorneys and engineers as residents press legal challenges over safety and property values.
In a decisive move, city leaders are intensifying their campaign against the construction of a Blackfin Pipeline compressor station located off Interstate 45. On Tuesday, they voted to engage external legal counsel and an engineer to mount a challenge against the project.
The station, part of the extensive 193-mile Blackfin Pipeline that stretches from Colorado County to Jasper County, is located just 150 feet away from Bartholet Home Furnishings, a well-established family-owned business in Conroe. Co-owner Sarah Bartholet Gwin has emerged as a prominent voice of dissent regarding the project, expressing grave concerns about the absence of a “buffer zone” and the significant risks it poses.
“We’re simply requesting a relocation to a safer site,” Gwin stated to Click2Houston, highlighting that an engineer’s map indicated a possible explosion impact zone that would encompass both the furniture store and the nearby highway.
Earlier this month, council members expressed that they were not informed about the compressor site at the time they granted a pipeline easement for Blackfin in July. Many expressed their disappointment regarding that decision.
State Representative Will Metcalf has added his voice to the growing opposition, calling on the Texas Railroad Commission to halt the project and convene a public hearing. A letter acquired by the Houston Chronicle reveals Metcalf's alarming warning about the “extreme” risks facing local families and businesses.
On July 23, the Bartholet family filed legal action against Blackfin Pipeline LLC and Montgomery Investments LLC, seeking a temporary restraining order to halt construction activities. A hearing is set to take place at 1:30 p.m. on August 29 in the 457th District Court.
“We remain hopeful and trust that the city will uphold its commitment and take all necessary actions to prevent this facility,” Gwin stated on Wednesday. “A significant number of lives and property values are in jeopardy.”
As of now, Blackfin has not yet submitted a response regarding the lawsuit. While company representatives refrained from discussing the ongoing litigation, they stood firm in their defense of the project's safety measures.
In a statement released on Friday, Blackfin emphasized that the pipeline has been meticulously designed and constructed in full compliance with and in collaboration with all relevant regulatory agencies.
Cody McGregor, the spokesman, expressed concerns that Conroe's actions might erode trust in Texas' energy infrastructure. “The council’s actions aim to instill fear within the oil and gas sector and obstruct a vital infrastructure project that generates employment and bolsters the economy,” McGregor stated.
Strategically positioned every 50 to 100 miles along a pipeline, compressor stations play a crucial role in pressurizing natural gas for its journey through the network. Construction started in late 2024 at the Conroe site, one of four locations along the Blackfin Pipeline.
Following a private executive session, the council has given its approval for the latest initiative, with no additional public discourse provided.
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