FERC to Rule on Two Southeast U.S. Pipelines Totaling 3.4 Bcf/d

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will issue no later than July 31, 2026 its final order on two Kinder Morgan pipelines in the southeastern United States that together add 3.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of new natural gas transport capacity.

The Mississippi Crossing (MSX), operated by Tennessee Gas Pipeline, a Kinder Morgan subsidiary, consists of an approximately 199-mile new pipeline between Greenville, Mississippi, and Butler, Alabama, with capacity of up to 2.1 Bcf/d, according to the final environmental impact statement published by FERC on June 26, 2026.

The South System Expansion 4 (SSE4), operated by Southern Natural Gas, also a Kinder Morgan subsidiary, adds 291 miles of parallel pipeline and expansions at 12 compressor stations across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, with an additional 1.3 Bcf/d, according to the same FERC document.

Both pipelines were designed to serve growing natural gas demand in the southeastern United States (power generation, data centers, and industrial consumption) and to bolster supply to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

From those terminals, cargoes depart for Latin America and other regions; Mexico, connected to the U.S. system by a network of cross-border pipelines, is the leading regional importer.

The final environmental impact statement concluded that the effects of both projects can be reduced to non-significant levels with the recommended mitigation measures, which include erosion controls, wetland management plans, and consultations under the Endangered Species Act.

The Commission's final order represents the last regulatory step before construction can begin.

According to Pipeline & Gas Journal, the MSX carries an estimated cost of $1,700 million and a projected commercial start-up in the second quarter of 2028.

The SSE4, with a total investment of $3,500 million ($1,800 million of which corresponds to Kinder Morgan), has its first phase scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028 and its second phase for the fourth quarter of 2029.

FERC's decision, expected before July 31, will determine whether the southeastern United States gains 3.4 Bcf/d of pipeline capacity this decade, at a moment when LNG infrastructure expansion along the Gulf of Mexico is directly affecting natural gas availability for Latin American markets.

This article was produced with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor prior to publication.