Local
Kinder Morgan's 470-Mile Gas Pipeline Would Cross 10 Tennessee Counties, Affect 760 Landowners
Kinder Morgan's proposed Southeast Connector Project would run 470 miles of natural gas pipeline through 10 Tennessee counties, starting in Sumner County and affecting 760 landowners, before continuing into Alabama and Georgia.
A proposed 470-mile natural gas pipeline would cut across 10 Tennessee counties and affect 760 landowners, as Kinder Morgan seeks to expand natural gas capacity in fast-growing communities across the state.
The Southeast Connector Project would begin in Sumner County and pass through Macon, Trousdale and Smith counties before continuing south into Alabama and Georgia, according to the company's proposal.
The scale of the project â nearly 470 miles of new pipeline through a swath of Middle Tennessee and beyond â makes it one of the most significant energy infrastructure proposals to touch the region in years. For the 760 landowners whose property lies along the proposed route, the project raises immediate questions about easements, property rights and compensation. For surrounding communities, it raises broader questions about safety, environmental impact and whether new fossil fuel infrastructure is the right path as the region grapples with growth and climate concerns.
Kinder Morgan, one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America, says the project is needed to keep pace with rising demand for natural gas in communities that are expanding rapidly. The company has not yet filed a formal application with federal regulators, and the specific route through each county has not been finalized.
Pipeline projects of this size typically require approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a process that includes environmental review and opportunities for public comment. Landowners along the route can expect to be contacted by the company about easement agreements, and opponents of similar projects in other states have raised concerns about eminent domain, land values and the risks of pipeline leaks.
The proposal comes as Tennessee communities continue to grow, straining existing energy infrastructure. Supporters of expanded gas capacity argue it is necessary to meet demand reliably, while critics contend that investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure locks in emissions for decades and runs counter to climate goals.
Details about the timeline, the exact route and the project's cost have not been fully disclosed. Residents in the affected counties â Sumner, Macon, Trousdale and Smith among them â are likely to press for more information in the coming months as the proposal moves through the regulatory process.