Kinder Morgan Proposes 290-Mile Gas Pipeline Expansion
Kinder Morgan plans for a multibillion-dollar expansion of its existing natural gas pipeline system in the southeastern U.S. in February, according to Augusta-Aiken’s WRDW-TV.
The proposal, currently under review, calls for the addition of 14 new pipeline segments totaling 290 miles. These lines would stretch across Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. The plan also includes upgrades to 13 compressor stations and the installation of four new metering facilities to manage and measure gas flow.
“This is an expansion of an existing natural gas pipeline system that we have operated in Georgia for over 50 years,” Allen Fore, vice president of Kinder Morgan, told Augusta-Aiken’s WRDW-TV. “It’s designed to increase natural gas supply for the region.”
Branded as the “South System 4 Expansion,” the project is being positioned as necessary to meet long-term energy demand, even for those who don’t directly use natural gas at home.
“Natural gas is a key source for generating electricity,” Fore added. “So even if you don’t have a gas stove or heater, your lights are likely powered by it. Everyone benefits.”
Some property owners in Jefferson County have expressed concern about how the project might interfere with future land use. In recent public forums, Kinder Morgan has emphasized its willingness to work with landowners to accommodate specific needs.
If regulatory approvals are granted, construction could begin in the coming years, with operations expected to start between 2028 and 2029.
Badenova Launches German Hydrogen Pipeline in South
BadenovaNETZE, a subsidiary of the Freiburg-based energy supplier Badenova Group, began construction on the first hydrogen pipeline in southern Germany.
The 34-mile (58-km) project, part of the H2@Hochrhein initiative, will stretch from Grenzach-Wyhlen to Waldshut-Tiengen and aims to support energy-intensive industries along the Upper Rhine with access to green hydrogen.
The initiative is part of Germany’s national hydrogen core network. Badenova’s H2@Hochrhein and RHYn Interco projects were added to the federal hydrogen plan in late 2024. The current construction marks the first phase of implementation, with full commissioning expected by 2030.
“With the approval of the core network and the early start of construction, the hydrogen ramp-up in the southwest is gaining momentum much earlier than originally expected,” said Julie Bürkle-Weiss, technical director at BadenovaNETZE.
Construction began in March, starting with a 5.6-mile (9-km) stretch between Albbruck and Dogern. The first 380 yards (350 meters) of pipeline were laid by the end of April. A feasibility study is underway to evaluate cross-border connections to Switzerland via the Rhine.
The project has received support from regional governments and municipalities, including the Waldshut district. “This gives our energy-intensive companies a clear future perspective. We want to remain an industrial location,” said District Administrator Dr. Martin Kistler.
Badenova plans to transport green hydrogen generated locally or sourced from other regions. The company is positioning itself not only as a pipeline developer but also as a long-term partner in building Germany’s hydrogen economy.
“We see ourselves as part of a movement that doesn’t wait for tomorrow – but acts today,” Bürkle-Weiss added.
Blocked Gas Pipeline Could Be Revived in Empire Wind Deal
The Trump administration has lifted a stop-work order on Empire Wind, a $5 billion wind farm project off the coast of New York, as part of a deal with the state, which could breathe life into a gas pipeline project that was canceled in 2020, officials said
Norway’s Equinor said construction can resume on the pipeline but did not provide specifics. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who had issued the stop order, said he was encouraged that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will the pipeline to move forward.
“Americans who live in New York and New England would see significant economic benefits and lower utility costs from increased access to reliable, affordable, clean American natural gas,” Burgum wrote in a post on X.
Hochul in a statement said New York would work with the U.S. administration and private entities on projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law.
Equinor said earlier it would lose billions of dollars due to the order, raising worries that fully permitted projects were not safe for investors.
“This was an extraordinary situation where a fully concepted and approved project was stopped. I take it as a very positive sign that explaining the facts of this has changed the position,” Equinor CEO Anders Opedal told Reuters
Officials from the U.S. Interior Department, who in issuing the stop-work order said the former Biden administration had rushed the project’s approval without sufficient environmental analysis, were not immediately available for comment.
Equinor said it would now work with suppliers and regulators to minimize the delays and related costs.
US Looks to Revive Alaska LNG Project with Asian MoneY
The U.S. hosted officials from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to Alaska to discuss a massive gas pipeline among other things, according to Reuters sources.
The event included a visit to Alaska’s remote North Slope, one source said, where stranded gas fields are located. The $44 billion project would cover 800 miles (1,300 km) before the gas is liquefied for shipment to mainly to Asian customers.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed optimism about the Alaska LNG project during a private meeting with U.S. Donald Trump in February, despite doubts in Tokyo about its viability. Japanese and South Korean officials and executives have sounded caution on such a project for decades due to cost and logistics challenges.
The White House declined to answer specific questions about the event, saying in a statement that Trump “has a proven history of bolstering American energy production and will restore our nation’s position as a global energy leader.”
Pipeline Lobby Proposes Reforms to Cut Storage Costs
A German pipeline lobby group suggested a new approach to gas storage, which would feature a permanent national reserve. The group said such a plan would reduce the cost of creating an energy buffer prior to future winters.
The lobby group’s proposal involves setting up a permanent gas security reserve held underground, where Germany for example can store a quarter of its annual requirements.
Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas’ managing director, Barbara Fischer, said the regulatory change helped for the short term.
“We propose a model combining gas supply security with a greater inclusion and responsibility for market players,” she said, with reference to gas merchants and shippers on FNB’s transport pipeline networks.
That would relieve the pressure for seasonal filling targets that have in many cases obliged utilities to pay elevated prices as market participants knew they needed to buy.
Since the energy crisis linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, E.U. countries have turned to increased storage to protect against energy shortages.
The new Berlin federal government recently changed required filling levels for the coming winter to coincide with changes to European Union regulations that allow 80% filling by Nov. 1 instead of the 90% previously needed. P&GJ