Energy giant Kinder Morgan is proposing to build a nearly 300-mile-long natural gas pipeline, estimated to cost $3 billion. The pipeline would cut through tribal lands and historic cities across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, including Selma, Alabama, and parts of the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi (Through connection to the proposed Mississippi Crossing Pipeline).
Why is this being proposed?
Kinder Morgan claims that one of the primary goals of the project is to increase energy capacity for data centers. The Southern U.S. has become a major hub for data center development and speculation, with tech companies like Oracle and OpenAI announcing plans to invest $500 billion to build 20 new facilities, many of which are located in southern states. In response to the projected surge in energy demand, companies like Kinder Morgan are seeking to significantly expand their pipeline and natural gas infrastructure.
Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is tracking the environmental impact of this tech and infrastructure boom and supporting community members who want to legally intervene in pipeline permitting proposals. To learn more about SELC’s work on natural gas regulations, read here.
To learn about other proposed natural gas projects under review at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, visit FERC.gov/projects.
What’s the Real Cost?
Who Is Impacted?
Landowners and community members living in the counties impacted by a proposed pipeline may be vulnerable to various infrastructure, public health, property rights, and procedural issues related to the construction and operation of natural gas pipelines.
Kinder Morgan stands to make billions of dollars by constructing pipelines across America and wants to rush the development to ensure it meets its profit goals. However, the company has previously been sued and fined hundreds of times for allegations of water contamination, worker rights violations, and pipeline-related issues.
If federal permitting agencies approve this project, SSE4 will impact residents and consumers of natural gas in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. The pipeline would run parallel to the existing Southern Natural Gas and Elba Express pipeline routes and connect to other proposed pipeline routes, including the Mississippi Crossing Pipeline Project that is also under pre-application review at FERC. Kinder Morgan is currently surveying land and contacting community members and elected officials in the counties that may be affected by the proposed route. The company is proposing to begin construction on SSE4 by 2027. To learn more about the project, review the PowerPoint presentation available on the Kinder Morgan project website.
Join Others Who Are Speaking Up
Are you a directly impacted landowner or community member looking to connect with legal and environmental resources related to the SSE4 pipeline? Fill out the form linked here, and The Center for Oil and Gas Organizing will connect you with a growing network of community members, landowners, and technical experts focused on SSE4 and other natural gas infrastructure projects.
If you are a landowner, groups like the Property Rights and Pipeline Center offer tools and resources to support landowners in advocating for their rights. Learn more by visiting www.pipelinecenter.org. Check out their Rapid Response Guide for helpful toolkits and resources.
How to Submit a Comment with FERC and Stay Informed about the SSE4 Pipeline Permit Process.
The South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) pipeline is currently in the pre-application phase at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the docket number PF25-1-000. Now is the time to speak up, submit public comments, and share your concerns about the proposed pipeline as the project’s status is rapidly changing. Landowners and directly impacted community members are strongly encouraged to raise their voices early and often. Visit the FERC.gov SSE4 project webpage to learn more about the proposal.
- Go to FERC e-library
- Search for the FERC Filing Docket # for SSE4 Project: PF25-1-000
- Learn how to submit your comment by checking out the tutorials listed on the FERC Office of Public Participation webpage.
Cited Sources and Additional Resources:
DiLallo , Matt , and The Motley Fool . “This $500 Billion AI Data Center Investment Could Accelerate Demand for This Crucial Fuel.” Nasdaq.com, 2025, www.nasdaq.com/articles/500-billion-ai-data-center-investment-could-accelerate-demand-crucial-fuel.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . “South System Expansion 4 Pipeline Project.” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2025, www.ferc.gov/south-system-expansion-4-pipeline-project.
Fitzgerald, Elle Caruso. “Kinder Morgan Says AI, Data Centers Are Natural Gas Growth Opportunities.” ETF Trends, 18 July 2024, www.etftrends.com/energy-infrastructure-channel/kinder-morgan-says-ai-data-centers-natural-gas-growth-opportunities/.
Good Jobs First . “Kinder-Morgan | Violation Tracker.” Goodjobsfirst.org, 2016, violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/kinder-morgan.
Kinder Morgan. “South System Expansion 4.” Kinder Morgan, 2024, www.kindermorgan.com/Operations/Projects/SSE4-Project-Page.
Merieme, Arif. “$3 Billion Major Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Planned in the Southeast | News Channel 3-12.” News Channel 3-12, 12 Feb. 2025, keyt.com/cnn-regional/2025/02/12/3-billion-major-natural-gas-pipeline-expansion-planned-in-the-southeast/.
Pipeline Safety Trust. “Pipeline Info for Landowners.” Pipeline Safety Trust, 2025, pstrust.org/pipelines-for-landowners/.
Property Rights and Pipeline Center . “PRPC | Rapid Response | Landowners Guide to Pipelines.” Pipelinecenter.org, 2024, www.pipelinecenter.org/landowners-guide-to-pipelines.
Shafto, Jodi. “Data Center Natural Gas Supply Threatened by Stalled Pipelines, Execs Say.” Natural Gas Intelligence, 11 June 2025, naturalgasintel.com/news/stalling-pipelines-threatens-natural-gas-supply-for-data-center-surge-execs-say/.
Southern Environmental Law Center . “Methane Gas Is Bad for the South.” Southern Environmental Law Center, 21 Nov. 2024, www.selc.org/topic/methane-gas-threatens-southern-people-and-places/.
