Black Farmers in Pembroke, Illinois Fighting to Protect Rare Ecosystem from Nicor

Photo provided by the Pembroke Environmental Justice Coalition (PEJC)

Attorneys at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee this week helped submit a legal challenge on behalf of the Pembroke Environmental Justice Coalition (PEJC), a grassroots coalition trying to halt plans for a new gas pipeline in the historic Black farming community of Pembroke Township, Illinois.

The proposed pipeline threatens a sustainable Black farming community while risking a rare and unique ecosystem – all at a time when natural gas prices are rising and the State of Illinois has committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.

Earlier this year, Illinois lawmakers passed a law that puts Nicor’s plans on a fast track review process before the Illinois Commerce Commission that ends in January. The #RenewablePembroke movement led by local residents to stop the pipeline has gained momentum, with multiple groups using legal action and mobilizing grassroots support. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee is proud to represent the PEJC in this court challenge.

Here’s an excerpt from our brief, submitted jointly with Environmental Defense Fund and Blacks in Green:

Pembroke Township has a long and rich history - culturally, environmentally and ecologically. The historically Black farming community was founded by runaway slaves in the 1860s, and generations of residents since have been devout environmental stewards. Dr. Wright-Carter, MD, MPA, and co-founder of Black Oaks Center in Pembroke Township, explained that Pembroke is a rare ecological place because of the unique cross-generational environmental stewardship that has protected the lands. The Black Oak Savanna used to cover over a million acres in the region, from the time glaciers retreated. Unlike anywhere else in the area, Pembroke remains much as it was over 200 years ago, with rich biodiversity and an extremely healthy ecosystem. Fireflies still light up the night in the summertime, wide varieties of dragonflies dot the savanna, and tree frogs inhabit the forest. This is not happenstance – it was very deliberate. Generations of people here defended all life in the environment. Farming was done conscientiously and sustainably to ensure the environment was protected while food was grown. All of that is threatened by Nicor’s proposed Project, which would construct over thirty miles of new natural gas pipes and facilities without regard for whether residents want, need, or are even financially capable of using natural gas.

Get Involved

Don't let over 200 years of Black environmental stewardship come to a halt! Leave a comment here and tell the Illinois Commerce Commission to DENY Nicor’s plan to build a gas pipeline. You can copy and paste from below:

Dear Illinois Commerce Commission,

I am a (customer of Nicor/resident of Kankakee/resident of Illinois/concerned citizen, etc.). I urge you to reject Nicor’s inequitable natural gas system expansion to Pembroke Township while the rest of Illinois is moving toward affordable clean energy.

Generations of Pembroke residents have been devout environmental stewards, practicing regenerative, sustainable farming practices to maintain the ecosystem to be much the same as it was centuries ago. Nicor planned the pipeline without informed community input and without meaningful consideration of the community’s priorities. The community has a right to understand the project and have their voices heard.

Pipeline construction and operation on the long-protected savanna could be devastating. Nicor had a recent explosion on its system and is under investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. Emergency services are far from many areas of the pipeline, and the winds that whip across the savanna could spread a fire before help arrives.

While other parts of Illinois transition to clean energy, please do not let low-income customers bear an ever-increasing share of the costs of a system they cannot afford to leave. Pembroke should be a part of Illinois’ clean energy future, not the last community locked in to new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Thank you,

(name)