Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG) has started a multiyear process to increase natural gas availability in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for the Southern Company. It’s a $3 billion project along existing utility corridors installing 42-, 36- and 30-inch pipe. Compressor stations along the route will be improved as well.
Officials with Kinder Morgan, the parent company of SNG, conducted open houses in Tuskegee and Prattville to meet with landowners in Elmore, Tallapoosa, Macon and Autauga Counties about how the proposed construction process will work.
“In Elmore County we will renovate the compressor station near Coosada,” Kinder Martin vice president of public affairs Allen Fore said. “It will stay on the current footprint of the property there.”
The current station is easily visible from Coosada Parkway. Property tax is also collected on the compressor station.
If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves the project, Elmore County will see about 10.5 miles of new pipe line installed. Tallapoosa County will see about 5 miles.
A new bore under the Tallapoosa River near Tallassee will occur as well.
“Some of the property being looked at will accommodate having to drill under the river,” Fore said. “Those require some depth and must start away from the river.”
The process for the project starts with open houses. From there SNG will conduct land surveys for possible ecological and cultural impact.
In Elmore County, fewer than 200 property owners will have surveys done. Fewer than 100 will actually see pipelines installed and the vast majority of those already have an SNG pipeline there. There are even fewer in Tallapoosa County.
If all goes as planned, construction would start in 2027.
“We plan to engage about seven different contractors along the route who are familiar to the industry," Fore said. “They will employ subcontractors who specialize in pipeline construction.”
Fore said the clearing right of way would lead into the actual construction, which would also mean more people staying in Elmore County during the process.
“They will be eating here, staying here,” Fore said. “They will be spending money here.”