Buc-ee’s, a Texas-based chain of enormous travel stops, has expanded across the U.S. in the last few years, finding its latest in Mebane. The mega-chain, which has over 50 locations, is bringing its first gas station to North Carolina’s Alamance County community.
The Buc-ee’s North Carolina expansion has been welcomed by some local leaders and devoted fans of the company, however, many North Carolina residents are voicing concerns about the traffic congestion and environmental impact on the small city.
“Mega gas stations like Buc-ee’s are not just roadside stops — they are sources of toxic pollution,” stated Rania Masri, co-director of North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN), during a press conference outside of Mebane’s City Hall. “We do not need more toxic infrastructure. We need more clean water, breathable air, and communities where health and dignity are non-negotiable.”
Recently, the Indigenous-led organization, 7 Directions of Service, in partnership with NCEJN, released a report highlighting health, air, and water concerns against the 120-pump gas station planned for Alamance County.
The mega gas station would consume over 23,000 gallons of water daily, and the site sits within a mile of 13 known underground fuel leaks, including five at the nearby Pilot station, with the most recent leak from 2023 still awaiting cleanup, IndyWeek reports.
7 Directions also noted that the gas station would potentially harm historic Native American trading paths that served the Catawba, Occaneechi, and Waxhaw. The new Buc-ee’s will be built on ground recognized by the non-profit World Monuments Fund.
“It’s a disgrace that the city would allow this piece of historic landscape to be bulldozed over,” said Crystal Cavalier-Keck, director and co-founder of 7 Directions of Service, during the press conference.
North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s is expected to feature a 74,000-square-foot store, 652 parking spaces, and 120 gas pumps. Despite the Mebane City Council hearing hours of public comments that were mostly against Buc-ees, the council approved the project back in January 2024.
“Mebane buckled. They gave the knee,” said Jason Keck, a member of 7 Directions of Service. “When should we stop saying ‘wrong is wrong’?”
