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Independent regulatory commissions

FERC Releases Environmental Assessment for New Transco SSEP Pipeline

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has released an Environmental Assessment for the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, a proposed methane gas pipeline that would move over 1.5 million dekatherms per day of gas through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. The project, which is the largest expansion of gas infrastructure currently proposed in the Southeast, would have significant environmental impacts, including the potential for cumulative, devastating effects on local communities, species, and water resources. Despite FERC's claim that the project would have "no significant impact," environmental groups and local residents are voicing strong opposition to the project, citing concerns about air and water pollution, as well as the potential for increased energy costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Southeast Supply Enhancement Project is a proposed methane gas pipeline that would move over 1.5 million dekatherms per day of gas through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
  • The project is the largest expansion of gas infrastructure currently proposed in the Southeast and would have significant environmental impacts, including the potential for cumulative, devastating effects on local communities, species, and water resources.
  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released an Environmental Assessment for the project, which claims that it would have "no significant impact" on the environment.
  • However, environmental groups and local residents are voicing strong opposition to the project, citing concerns about air and water pollution, as well as the potential for increased energy costs.
  • The project would share a similar route through Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and Rockingham County, North Carolina, with the Mountain Valley Pipeline's Southgate project, raising concerns about cumulative impacts.
  • FERC has announced a 30-day comment period for the project, closing on December 1, but has not planned any public hearings for residents along the impacted route.

Statistics:

  • More than 90% of the gas from the SSEP would go to utility companies across the Southeast for proposed gas plants that carry a lot of uncertainty (Juhi Modi, North Carolina Field Coordinator at Appalachian Voices).
  • Forecasts of energy demand in the Southeast are likely overestimates driven by data centers and other large-load customers that may never materialize (Juhi Modi, North Carolina Field Coordinator at Appalachian Voices).
  • The project would have a significant impact on communities in North Carolina that already suffer from some of the worst air pollution in the state (Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist at Sierra Club).
  • The proposed SSEP pipeline would go through communities in North Carolina that have already voiced strong and unified opposition to this project (Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist at Sierra Club).
  • The FERC staff has made a claim that this huge, destructive project would have 'no significant impact' on the precious environments and the people whose lives would be profoundly harmed (David Sligh, Wild Virginia's Water Quality Programs Director).

Sources:

  • Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2025/10/ferc-releases-environmental-assessment-new-transco-ssep-pipeline
  • Appalachian Voices: (No specific source mentioned in the original text)

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