The South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) project aims to expand an existing methane gas (called “natural gas” by the industry) pipeline.
- The SSE4 project will expand a section of the Southern Company-owned Southern Natural Gas (SNG) pipeline network which already spans approximately 7,600 miles across the region. *NOTE: Southern Company is the parent company of Georgia Power.
- 14 segments of pipeline are proposed to be built next to an existing pipeline—like adding a lane to a highway—across all of Georgia and Alabama, where it would connect to another, completely new pipeline proposed in Mississippi.
- This expansion would be BIG: The goal of this project is to increase the amount of methane pushed through the entire pipeline network by about 33%.
The South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) Project is a natural gas pipeline expansion that runs across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia and proposes to increase Southern Natural Gas (SNG) pipeline capacity by approximately 1.3 billion cubic feet per day.
The total length of the SSE4 pipeline through all three states is 279 miles, while the GA expansion contains approximately 145 miles of the total proposed pipeline and runs from the Columbus area to the Augusta area.
Kinder Morgan and Southern Company would like to increase the capacity of natural gas supply through the south along the already existing Southern Natural Gas (SNG) pipeline that runs through MS, AL, and GA to increase exports of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). To do so, the project entails disruptions of land and additions of high-pressure natural gas infrastructure to push that gas through. Transmission elements that will be added or upgraded to increase capacity include pipelines, compressor stations, adding pig launchers and receivers, block valves, and citygates. The elements of transmission for natural gas release several toxins into the air that have been found to be harmful to community and environmental health.
The cost of the project for all three states is projected to be $3.5 billion and would result in increasing LNG output by 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). Currently the SNG line in use has capacity for approximately 4.4 billion cubic feet per day. The developer states that the 30% increase is to “support increased residential, commercial, industrial load, and electric generation demand in the Southeast.” Yet, the projected increase in population of GA is only 8% leaving the increase request largely unexplained.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2023, the breakdown of uses was:
- 57% of the natural gas delivered to Georgia consumers was used for electricity generation, making the electric power sector the state’s largest natural gas consumer.
- 20% was for the industrial sector.
- 16% was for the residential sector, where about four out of ten Georgia households use natural gas for home heating.
- The commercial sector accounted for most of the rest of state natural gas use.
- The transportation sector consumed a small amount of natural gas as vehicle fuel.
Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, has announced that energy demand from data centers is the reason for their $15 billion plan they have asked the Public Service Commission for approval on, of which $3.5 billion of natural gas infrastructure is a part of.
According to a December 2024 report by the US Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, “Across all scenarios, modeled U.S. domestic natural gas supply is sufficient to meet modeled global demand for U.S. LNG while continuing to meet domestic demand.” The filings from the developers regarding Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity are not accessible to the public. Under the Integrated Resource Plan, GA law requires a developer to “Indicate in detail the projected demand for electric energy for a 20 year period and the basis for determining the projected demand.”
It is also unclear why the public does not have access to this information. The publication Grist suggests the 30% increase in energy capacity is for data centers while a report in Oil Price notes that current market exports require more capacity. A January 2025 report from The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis projects “…a massive wave of new export capacity is poised to send global liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets into oversupply within two years.”
There is no documentation nor reporting that shows the expansion is for Georgians, but like the Vogtle plant, which Georgians are now paying for in their electricity bills, will Georgians still pay for this expansion?
Yes.
The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved 10GW of expansion for Georgia Power on Dec 19, 2025. A majority of this expansion is to power data centers and will be created by building more gas power plants. The fuel for gas power plants is often supplied by direct hookups to gas pipelines.
Compressor stations are facilities that are placed throughout the pipeline path to control pressure and flow of the natural gas. Toxins are periodically released from these stations during compressor blowdowns, or intentional release of gases into the air. The table below illustrates the toxins that are released and the associated health hazards from a study on compressor stations in the publication GeoHealth (2023). Additionally, a Stanford study notes “approximately 43% of total methane emissions across all four segments of the natural gas industry are from compressors and compressor stations, mostly from the processing and transmission and storage segments.”
Yes, they are expanding the pipeline, not building a new one – but expansion means tearing up neighboring land with construction equipment, larger and/or new compressor stations, and overall community disruptions.
An increase in capacity means that there is an investment in liquid natural gas assets locking us into a volatile market that is known to pollute the environment and cause harm to human health which divests from a more sustainable, less toxic infrastructure.
The Natural Gas Act (“NGA”; 15 U.S.C. § 717) requires natural gas companies to prove they will not rely on ratepayers to subsidize expansion of pipeline capacity while FERC is tasked with ensuring our rates remain fair. The true economics of pipeline expansion are more convoluted since Southern company has a history of challenging FERC’s authority and has refused to study transmission demand for renewables. The increase in capacity in GA could be for data centers that don’t exist or as export, but what happens if the AI bubble bursts and the increase of renewables on the global scale leads to abandonment of assets? For instance, what will control pricing on the 57% of LNG that goes to electricity in GA? The three year freeze on GA Power ends as the proposed LNG comes online and could translate to higher eclectic rates to recoup losses in global exports or lack of domestic demand. The US Department of Energy noted in a report that “LNG projects are capital intensive and it is currently harder to make the whole value chain appear profitable in the face of lower prices and projected market over-supply.”
The American Gas Association outlines how our rates cover investment in new pipelines regardless of if they overestimate demand or the infrastructure is used for exports:
The image below illustrates the components of natural gas pipelines in the US. This image is from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Georgia contains elements of transmission and distribution, but all elements are assets paid for by ratepayers.
As the How Rates Are Set screenshot above from the American Gas Association outlines, investors receive the profits. You may ask, but aren’t the ratepayers investors when we pay for the pipeline – especially when the gas will be exported or used to power data centers? No. Ratepayers are not receiving other benefits. Although the company relies on residents’ rates to recoup the investments our rates continue to go up while Kinder Morgan projects capital of $1.8 billion to be added to their portfolio for SSE4 alone. Additionally, community resources are utilized when an explosion, leak or other emergency occurs, but many gas powered companies receive tax cuts leaving residents to subsidize those resources as well.
Employment is not high for this industry. The national employment total for compressor stations is 4,400 with a median income of $63, 810. For reference, the 10,000-mile Transco line only reports 1,160 employees.
Who is in the path of this project (and what else is in your backyard) ?
A newly proposed expansion to the natural gas pipelines across Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi adds to pre-existing health threats from pollution in these regions.
We have created an interactive map where you can zoom in to a specific region. Click on the image below to explore the map.
The map shows the pipeline in red, and highlights schools, childcare, health facilities, and congregations within 2 miles of the pipeline. Brown dots highlight existing hazardous waste generating facilities in the state. The brown coloration indicates the relative Environmental Burden, with dark brown being the most burdened and light brown being the least.
Also, check this list to see if your ZIP code is within 20 miles of the pipeline path!
The first map allows you to see your GA House of Representative District. The legend will appear if you click the icon on the upper left hand corner. Additionally, by clicking your area on the map a popup will appear with your House District code and a link to the Georgia General Assembly Page where you are able to see the most up to date contact information for your representative.
The additional maps are vicinity maps that show different community facilities including schools, childcare, hospitals and emergency response within the blast zone calculated from the diameter of the pipeline as well as those within a 2 mile radius of the pipeline expansion. These are community facilities that would be impacted by a pipeline event and you are able to click on an area and adjust the radius to see what is in the vicinity. A blast zone indicates those facilities at risk of fire in the event of an explosion while the 2 mile radius shows those facilities at highest risk of air pollution.
Places outside of the blast zone or 2 mile radius of the pipeline infrastructure could still be at risk of air pollution and acid rain from additional pipeline assets and facilities like valves and compressor stations or unreported leaks. Natural gas investment allows the potential increase of air pollution that is known to cause health risks where investment in clean energy would not.
Please note, some maps need time to load.
(Sources for the maps include: ESRI, Fractracker, GIPL, CDC, NRCS,USGS, NGDA, USDA, US Census, NCCPI, SELC, and Atlanta Regional Commission)
Georgia Science Junction Talk - Augusta - Jan 2026
Impacts on Home & Renter Insurance Rates
The pipeline goes through heavily populated areas and many housing units are occupied by renters.
The map shows the percentage of housing units that are occupied by renters. Yellow is the highest percentage (70-100%), tan is 45-70%, light blue is 23-45%, and dark plus is less than 23% or no data.
Home insurance instability is leading to a cost increase where “the average cost of home insurance rose from $1,902 to $2,530 between 2020 and 2023” adding additional pressure to housing markets pricing some out of the market entirely.
The map on the right shows where the pipeline is relative to Federal Opportunity Zones. Designed opportunity zones are highlighted in turquoise.
Impacts on Health
All along the pipeline, there are possibilities of an accident, such as a pipeline explosion or toxin release, that would have negative local health impacts.
Areas near compressor stations are at increased risk. These stations release noxious fumes into the air, water, and land. Exposure to these toxins impacts long term health, causing an increased risk of asthma, heart disease, cancer, and birth defects.
“Compression engines powered with methane release nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAP). Diesel engines release those pollutants as well as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and substantial particulate matter.”
A study done on compressor stations in 2017 in NY “found high annual emissions of over five million pounds for substances known to be associated with each of the following other health problems: digestive problems, circulatory disorders, and congenital malformations.”
Below are some maps that show areas that are less resilient to increased levels of pollution. The brown counties are those that have asthma rates higher than that of the rest of Georgia. Diamonds indicate medical facilities. Brown dots indicate existing facilities that are already emitting pollutants into the air.
An example from the Ocmulgee Compressor Station in Bibb County, “One indirect impact …is the increased incidence and severity of respiratory viral infections in populations living in areas with poor air quality. Ciencewicki, and Jaspers (2007) write, “a number of studies indicate associations between exposure to air pollutants and increased risk for respiratory virus infections.”
Fractracker reports “Compressor station emissions contribute to air pollutants known to be associated with cancer. For example, in a review of emissions for 18 CS in New York, Russo and Carpenter (2017) found that most or all CS released substances associated with a wide range of cancers. Up to 56 such chemicals were emitted in amounts that totaled over 1 million pounds each year.”
A study in rural Colorado “observed an association between density and proximity of natural gas wells within a 10-mile radius of maternal residence and prevalence of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) and possibly neural tube defects (NTDs).” (Mckenzie et al 2014)
Though they often occur while residents sleep, “Blow-downs”, the loud and toxic release of pressure within the compressor stations, can last from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours and occur from 12 to 40 times per year. Compressor stations can be loud and can sound like a commercial jet taking off during a blow-down. (Earthworks)
Pollutants such as are increased during pigging and blow-downs. “Studies in Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, and Oklahoma have demonstrated that NGD results in emission of VOCs, NO2, sulfur dioxide (SO2), PM, and PAHs from either the well itself or from associated drilling processes or related infrastructure (i.e., drilling muds, hydraulic fracturing fluids, tanks containing waste water and liquid hydrocarbons, diesel engines, compressor stations, dehydrators, and pipelines)” (Mckenzie et al 2014)
Impacts on Farms
During pipeline installation and upgrade, surrounding lands will be impacted by digging and erosion. This has a negative impact on farmland and crop yield.
Though the western part of the state contains tree farms, the area around Wrens Compressor Station in Jefferson County contains several farms that grow everything from strawberries to soybeans to corn to cotton. Below shows the high concentration of farms around in Jefferson County where cotton and corn are the biggest exports. UGA also has an extension office in the county for agricultural education opportunity. The county has 309 farms that make up 151,521 acres of farmland.
Impacts on Water
The water supply all along the route is susceptible to pollution or disruption from acid rain, flooding, and drought especially on the east side of the state where the soil is more porous between Macon and Augusta.
Nitrous Oxide & Sulfur Dioxide from Compressor Stations from pigging and blowdowns, and leaks from pipeline connections increases acid rain that leads to dissolved toxic metals into drinking water supplies and affecting crop health. Increasing the capacity will increase emissions.
Additionally, there is increased risk of salt-water incursion into fresh water around Savannah, a city already concerned about salinization of their surface waters and the Floridan aquifer ground water. Reduction in flow contributes to increasing amounts of salinization. The Journal of Hydrology notes in 2022 study that “the cumulative response to groundwater pumping in the Northern Atlantic coastal plain contributed to greater than a 20% reduction in streamflow.” (Peters et al. 2022) In addition to increasing capacity at the Rincon Compressor station, adding data centers in the Lower Savannah Watershed could disrupt the already stressed ground water and decrease flow increasing salinization.
The below map shows the path of the pipeline across rivers and waterways (shades of blue) in Georgia. The red bold line is the proposed new pipeline expansion, and the black line is the existing pipeline.
Where is my Drinking Water From?
Across the pipeline path are several different watersheds that allow us access to clean drinking water. The cities with the largest populations with watersheds in the path of SSE4 are Columbus, Macon, and Augusta.
Columbus, GA gets their drinking water from the Chattahoochee watershed (Chattahoochee River and Lake Oliver to 65,000 homes, businesses, and industries every day)
Macon-Bibb county water (serving 155k) gets its water from a reservoir in the Ocmulgee watershed.
Augusta-Richmond County pulls drinking water from the Cretaceous Aquifer and the Savannah River delivering water to about 160,000 people.
In the map on the top right, Water Supply Watersheds across the state are outlined with colored boundaries. From left to right: The Middle Chattahoochee in plum supplies Columbus and the surrounding area. Next is the Upper Flint in mustard yellow which supplies many of our state’s tree farms. The Middle Ocmulgee in blue supplies Macon-Bibb and surrounding counties with their water, followed by the Upper Oconee in teal which is an important supplier for farms as well as the mining industry of middle GA. Finally, the Savannah Upper Ogeechee in purple is necessary for the Augusta area water supply and eventually feeds into the Coastal Water supply outlined in green which supplies Savannah and the surrounding areas.
The bottom right map shows Drinking Water Wells. Light blue indicates 1-8, darker 9-28, and darkest 29-73.
Damage Done by Helene
Larger stations and lines increase the risk of a safety incident, in part by creating a larger surface area for exposure to severe storms.
September 27, 2024 “Atlanta Gas Light tracking more than 400 gas leaks across Georgia, more than 80% of them are located in the Augusta area and are due to exposed gas lines that were broken by trees that have been uprooted due to Hurricane Helene.”
The map shows the hurricane risk score. Bright yellow is the highest risk, darker yellow lower, and dark blue the lowest risk.
The SSE4 is a proposed expansion to an existing gas pipeline across Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Download a PDF summary of the project.
More info on the pipeline project
Comprehensive interactive storymap guide to fighting pipelines (Savannah Riverkeeper)
Easy-to-understand legal information for those in the pipeline path
Check for your ZIP code in this list of ZIP codes in proximity to the pipeline path!
Land rights resources for people in the path of the pipeline.
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- Whether you have good cause for failing to file the motion within the time prescribed; (here, parties can note that they were unaware of the process/just learned of it, and any other reason why—including that the intervention process is overly complicated and not easy to understand)
- Any disruption of the proceeding that might result from permitting late intervention; (the answer here is almost always no, there will be no disruption whatsoever, and if anything will provide additional information to FERC in its decisionmaking)
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Whether your interest is adequately represented by other parties; (also almost always no, in that the interest of each party in the proceeding is unique to that party or individual)
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Whether any prejudice to, or additional burden on, existing parties might result from permitting intervention; and (no again—same as to the answer above, if anything makes the process better/more infromed)
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Whether you otherwise met the requirements for intervention in Rule 214 (e.g., stated your position and interest in the proceeding). (here inform them to note why they are interested in the outcome/how they will potentially be impcated by authorization of the project)
Confused? Have questions? Please reach out to SELC via their contact form. Contact Us – Southern Environmental Law Center – make sure you put “SSE4 Intervene – URGENT” in the subject line.