When residents near Cane Ridge learned about plans to build a gas compressor station near Barnes Road they had one answer, no thank you.
However, despite the community meetings and opposition, gas compressor stations are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC, meaning local goverments and the people don't really have a say.
"With the increase of fracking, with the increase of all these companies trying to pump more gas through pipelines, they could want to build one next to the convention center and we wouldn't be able to stop them," District 31 Councilman Fabian Bedne said.
Bedne said he was also contacted by residents in Joelton, where another compressor station is planned to be built.
"They asked me to help with this legislation and I was very happy to jump in," said Bedne.
The bill aims to prohibit gas, vapor and odor emmissions which exceede air and water quality standards beyond the property lines while also giving residents a say in the matter.
"There's about a thousand families that live within a mile around this site, there's also a school," Bedne explained near Cane Ridge.
Neighborhoods like his boast a greenway walking trail and a creek that's home to an endangered species of crawfish. Residents believe a compressor station could put all of it in danger and despite being federaly regulated, Bedne hopes there's a chance for change.
"I believe there is a very narrow opportunity for us to have some level of control and that's what I'm trying to do," said Bedne.
Tuesday is the second reading on the bill. It needs to pass a third reading before it becomes law.
