SMITHS STATION, Ala. (WTVM) - Plans are in the works to expand a natural gas pipeline through east Alabama and west Georgia. Supporters claim the infrastructure would improve natural gas production in the region. However, a group of nonprofits is warning the project will lead to higher utility bills and long-lasting environmental concerns.

“Alabama Power have indicated to us and they’re part of this project that they need additional natural gas capacity for really the next 20 to 30 years,” said Allen Fore with Kinder Morgan.

Allen Fore is the Vice President of Public Affairs for Kinder Morgan, one of the largest infrastructure companies in the nation. He spoke to our sister station in January about the natural gas pipeline project their proposing, called the South System Expansion 4 Project.

“Folks that are watching and say, why are you building this? What is it for? It’s for a specific purpose and that’s for homes and businesses manufacturing in the Southeast and in Alabama,” Fore said.

Take a look at this map. According to Kinder Morgan, the red lines across Alabama and Georgia, called Loop Lines are where new gas lines will be constructed, parallel to already existing natural gas lines. The red squares along those lines are where compressor stations will be built to keep gas moving through the line. Senior attorney for Southern Environmental Law Center, Megan Gibson says the “Fossil Fuels Superhighway” poses danger to families and to their land.

“This isn’t just another pipeline of project, it’s a nearly 300 mile fossil fuel Super Highway and it’s going to tear through Alabama and Georgia directly impacting communities water resources, rate payers customers along the way and at the end of the day, customers, consumers in Alabama and Georgia, not corporate shareholders are going to be asked to shoulder the financial risk of this multibillion dollar gas project and it threatens vulnerable communities it passes through.”

This week the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission known as FERC discussed the project. The Southern Environmental Law Center believes there has been very little analysis from FERC on the need for this project, prompting the SELC to file a formal complaint.

“We’re at this pivotal point to help inform our regulators, our decision makers on what’s best for our communities, what’s best for our region, what’s best for our states, for our neighbors, for our families and at the end of the day, more pollution, more fossil fuels, increased bills, dirtier air, dirtier water is not what’s best for anybody,” said Gibson.

Next steps for the project, all evidence and project proposals will be reviewed by FERC and FERC will also conduct an analysis of environmental impacts. The Southern Environmental Law Center says this reviewal process will take months. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on air and online.

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