More pipelines on the horizon as the southeast’s energy future takes shape

$4.5 billion in New Pipelines to Power AI, Industry, and Homes in Southeastern US

Mar 05, 2025

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is currently reviewing two significant natural gas pipeline projects proposed by Kinder Morgan subsidiaries: the South System Expansion 4 Project (SSE4) and the Mississippi Crossing Project (MSX). These initiatives aim to boost natural gas capacity across the Southeast U.S., addressing rising demand from power generation, AI operations, data centers, and industrial sectors. Both projects are in the early stages of regulatory evaluation, with FERC initiating a public scoping period to assess their environmental impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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The SSE4 project, spearheaded by Southern Natural Gas Company, LLC (SNG) and Elba Express Company, LLC (EEC), entails constructing 279 miles of new pipeline loops, ranging from 20 to 42 inches in diameter. It also involves upgrading 13 existing compressor stations and adding or modifying meter stations. This project will deliver approximately 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of capacity, with a total cost of $3 billion, of which Kinder Morgan will fund $1.7 billion. On the other hand, the MSX project, proposed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (TGP), includes building 206 miles of new pipeline, sized between 36 and 42 inches in diameter, along with three new compressor stations and related facilities. It is designed to provide about 1.5 Bcf/d—though earlier reports cited up to 2.1 Bcf/d—at a cost of $1.6 billion.

Read: Energy Transfer secures natural gas contract for huge new AI data center in Texas

These ambitious projects stretch across multiple counties in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The SSE4 project will impact areas such as Lauderdale and Clarke Counties in Mississippi; Sumter, Marengo, Hale, Perry, Dallas, Autauga, Elmore, Tallapoosa, Macon, and Lee Counties in Alabama; and Harris, Talbot, Upson, Crawford, Monroe, Bibb, Jones, Baldwin, Washington, Glascock, Jefferson, Richmond, Henry, Spalding, Effingham, and Chatham Counties in Georgia. Meanwhile, the MSX project will affect Washington, Sunflower, Humphreys, Holmes, Attala, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Lauderdale, and Clarke Counties in Mississippi, as well as Choctaw County in Alabama.

Both projects are in the pre-filing phase with FERC, listed under Docket Nos. PF25-1-000 for SSE4 and PF25-2-000 for MSX. The public scoping period for submitting comments is open until March 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Individuals can submit feedback through eComment, eFiling, or by mailing FERC’s Washington, DC office. To further engage the public, FERC has scheduled scoping meetings from March 24 to April 3, 2025, in locations like Decatur, MS; Butler, AL; Selma, AL; and Hamilton, GA. At these meetings, attendees can offer one-on-one oral comments to court reporters between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. local time.

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Environmentally, the SSE4 project will temporarily disturb 4,646 acres of land, with 1,640 acres maintained permanently after construction. Notably, 93% of its pipeline will be collocated with existing rights-of-way, minimizing new land disruption. In contrast, the MSX project will temporarily affect 2,463 acres, with 1,556 acres maintained long-term, but only 25% of its pipeline will align with existing rights-of-way. Following the scoping period, FERC will release an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to detail these impacts.

Read: FERC upholds American energy independence by ditching GHG pipeline policy

Economically, these projects represent a combined investment exceeding $4.5 billion to meet the Southeast’s energy demands. The SSE4 project is slated for phased completion between 2028 and 2029, while MSX is targeted for 2028, assuming regulatory approval is secured. However, challenges loom on the horizon. Both initiatives could encounter environmental and community pushback, as seen with previous Kinder Morgan projects, potentially delaying their timelines. Additionally, a discrepancy in MSX’s reported capacity—1.5 Bcf/d versus an earlier 2.1 Bcf/d—hints at ongoing refinements.

FERC’s environmental review, informed by public input, will play a pivotal role in shaping the fate of these projects. As they progress, they promise to influence the region’s energy infrastructure significantly. Stay tuned for updates on these critical developments.

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