Open House allows area landowners to learn more about proposed pipeline project

By Sarah Stephens

Elmore Autauga News

Wednesday evening, hundreds of area residents gathered at Autauga Academy for an open house event concerning a $3 billion pipeline project being considered, part of which is in our area.

Most of the people present were stakeholders, or property owners, where this new project will impact portions of their property. They were first contacted months ago, but said they were eager to learn more at this event about what is in store for the future.

Referred to as the South System Expansion 4 (SSE4), it is designed to increase the amount of natural gas for growing demand. Most of the project will include pipelines that are already in place. However, some of the project will include new areas, where the lines will have to be looped around structures or developments since the initial pipeline was set.

Allen Fore is the Vice President for Kinder Morgan public affairs, and spoke throughout the evening with individuals and media, answering questions about the proposed project. Fore manages corporate public affairs, government relations and community relations for existing company assets and major expansion projects nationwide.

Fore explained that the project is being developed by Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG), a Delaware limited liability company equally owned by subsidiaries of Kinder Morgan and Southern Company, and Elba Express Company, a Kinder Morgan subsidiary.

The SSE4 project will provide up to 1.3 billion cubic feet per day of additional firm natural gas capacity across the SNG south mainline facilities from receipt points as far west as Clarke County MS to various points along the SNG South System, including portions of Alabama and other states.

Fore said the project includes almost entirely brownfield looping and compression additions across approximately 279 miles of existing assets.

Fore said this project is in the very early stages. It will be overseen by federal and state regulatory agencies which will review and have oversight of the project. This includes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Visitors last night could visit multiple informational tables and ask questions. Many signed up to receive email notifications of the progress of the projects.

The project is about to begin filing certificate application with FERC and other permit applications. Once approved, construction is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

It would be 2028 for Phase 1 to begin in service, and the fourth quarter of 2029 for Phase 2.

Fore said in 2024, the process began by contact landowners that will be affected, to begin surveys, and set up meetings with officials.

“Tonight is just the first formal part of the process,” Fore said. “This summer, the formal application process will begin.”

Autauga and Elmore counties will be part of this project, but on a relatively small scale when it comes to direct impact to stakeholders. That includes 173 property owners in Elmore County and 130 in Autauga County.

“A big part of tonight is to talk to the stakeholders,” Fore said. He explained that officials want to answer their questions, treat the stakeholders with respect, and make sure they are compensated fairly.

Fore has also been speaking with local county and city officials, because as construction begins, trucks will be in the area carrying heavy loads of pipe on local roadways, among other things. He said it is important to establish an open line of communication. Construction workers will be in the area and be part of various communities.

Among those area officials he has met include Millbrook officials. When it came time for a lunch date, he requested a local establishment with good food.

“It is nice to be in an area and enjoy local things,” Fore said. “We went to Hometown Kitchen in Millbrook for our meeting and it was great!”

Fore admits he does a lot of traveling throughout the year, but is excited that, at least for the next week, he will be in one area.

Several more open house events are planned for the future in other areas that will be impacted by the project. Landowners affected by this proposed project will be contacted about those events across the states involved.