STOP THE SOUTHEAST
CONNECTOR PIPELINE
About
Gas giant Kinder Morgan (via Southern Natural Gas Company) wants to build a new 150-mile, 48-inch-diameter methane gas pipeline through Middle TN. If approved, it would run through 10 counties: Sumner, Macon, Trousdale, Smith, DeKalb, Cannon, Warren, Coffee, Franklin, and Marion. This proposal also includes building 3 new compressor stations in Sumner, Trousdale, Franklin Counties.
If built, the pipeline would travel across farmlands, near homes, and through streams and wetlands.
*this is a preliminary map, we will update when a better one is availableFAQs
Are there better options?
Don’t build it! According to an energy expert cited by WPLN, the proposed pipeline's capacity could be used to generate enough to power roughly 14 million average American homes (around 17 gigawatts of electricity). The public has not been shown evidence that new pipeline capacity in this area is necessary to meet the energy needs of households and businesses in our region. Its scale raises serious questions about whether the project is planned to facilitate additional industrial development, including future data centers, across Tennessee and the Southeast.
Will property owners have their land taken?
In order to build their pipeline, Kinder Morgan could take land rights from local folks through negotiating an easement or exercising eminent domain. If you are a property owner along the pipeline route, it is helpful to have a lawyer look over paperwork before signing anything.
Is this a done deal?
No! Community voices are essential to the federal government’s decision-making process for these projects. No federal agency has identified that the project is needed or approved its planned route. Kinder Morgan still needs to apply for and get a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), among other approvals. There will be opportunities for public comment and formal intervention during the regulatory approval process. If FERC grants a certificate, Kinder Morgan is projecting that they will start construction in late 2028.
What are the potential risks?
The natural gas that would run through this pipeline is primarily methane. Methane is highly flammable, and with a pipeline of this size, the blast zone in the unlikely event of an explosion would be approximately ½ mile. Other risks include falling property values (particularly for landowners), groundwater contamination during construction, pollution from compressor stations, disruption of cultural and historical landmarks, among other downsides.
More questions? Submit yours below and we will do our best to answer.
Fight the Southeast Connector Pipeline in Your Community
1) Tell your friends and neighbors what is happening. You can use our factsheet below, just click it to download.
2) Sign the petition opposing the pipeline. This will also put you on our email list so you can stay up-to-date.
3) Work with your County Commission to pass a resolution opposing the pipeline. Click below to download our toolkit.
Who we are
This group was created to connect landowners, residents, and concerned citizens who stand opposed to the construction of Kinder Morgan's natural gas pipeline running through our counties: Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Macon, Marion, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale and Warren. Our goal is to protect our private property rights, safeguard our local water sources, and ensure the safety of our communities.