Truth To Power | Save Bernheim Now! | Battling LG&E's Proposed Bullitt County Pipeline | 12-9-22

On this week's Truth to Power, we bring you highlights from the "Save Bernheim Now!" (http://savebernheimnow.org) event held on December 4, 2022 at All People's Church in Louisville and featuring an inspiring array of speakers organizing to protect Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest from a dangerous and unnecessary high-pressure natural gas pipeline being proposed by LG&E. We'll hear from:
- Bernheim's Executive Director, Mark Wourms;
- Bernheim's Director of Conservation, Andrew Berry;
- Rev. Elisa Owen, Executive Director of Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light (KIPL) and Highland Presbyterian Church;
- Rob Kingsolver, retired Environmental Studies professor at Bellarmine University;
- Kenyetta Johnson from the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition (KSEC); and
- Rev. Bruce Beisner of All Peoples Church.

LGE-KU is taking Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest to court to condemn their property to construct a high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline. The court date is January 10, 2023, and Bernheim is using its scarce resources to fight this aggression. It is time for those of us who love Bernheim and oppose new, destructive fossil fuel initiatives to fight this battle personally. Here are just a few of the reasons why LG&E should be denied the condemnation by eminent domain:
- It violates Bernheim’s Conservation Easement. If LG&E wins in court, this will set a terrible precedent for all natural lands with conservation easements. 
- There will be serious environmental damage from the construction and maintenance of this pipeline. Its route disrupts significant and fragile habitat and interrupts a wildlife corridor connecting several natural areas.
- This area is demonstrably unstable and running a pipeline through it risks landslides and flooding. There is a high likelihood of pollutants entering streams and underground waterways.
- The land includes bat habitat. Bernheim recently documented 13 bat species utilizing a wide swath of Bernheim for roosting and foraging.
- The land is home to a couple of rare and endangered snails, creatures that have lived in this area for millions of years.
- Spending vast sums of money to INCREASE carbon emissions is blatantly financially motivated with no regard for the consequences.

On Truth to Power each week, we gather people from around the community to discuss the state of the world, the nation, the state, and the city! It's a community conversation like you won't hear anywhere else!

Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 4pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at http://forwardradio.org