The SSE4 Pipeline Won’t Bring a Boom, but a Burden

In the Blackbelt, we've heard this story before: "This project will bring jobs. This project will bring growth. This project will change everything." But too often, those promises never materialize. Companies make money. Our communities are left with the risk.

The latest example is the South System Expansion 4 (SSE4) pipeline. This project would add 14 new segments to an existing 279-mile methane gas pipeline running from Mississippi across Alabama and Georgia  right through Sumter, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Dallas, Autauga, Elmore, Tallapoosa, Macon, and Lee Counties.

Supporters say this will bring an "economic boom." But let's be honest we already have pipelines here. Where is the boom now?

In 2022, Perry County families were forced to evacuate their homes after a pipeline explosion. They left everything behind, weren't told when it was safe to return, and received no compensation for lost time or property. This is what happens when profit is prioritized over people.

The reality is, pipelines don't create long-term jobs for locals. Most construction work goes to out-of-state contractors who leave once the job is done. Schools, health clinics, and local businesses see little to no benefit. And the gas? It won't even stay here. It's expected to fuel utilities' data centers outside of Alabama. That means energy leaves, money leaves, and all we keep is the risk of leaks, explosions, health problems, and higher utility bills.

This is not prosperity. This is another burden on a region that already carries more than its fair share. Our land, air, and water are already under pressure. Another massive pipeline only makes it worse. Our communities deserve better: safe jobs, clean energy, and investments that actually stay in the Blackbelt.

Right now, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is reviewing this project. This is our moment to speak up.

Why submit a comment?

• Demand real communication. No family should be left in the dark like Perry County was in 2022.
• Require a safety plan that puts people before profits.
• Insist on clear emergency procedures during construction and after the pipeline is in the ground.

How to submit your comment:

Send your input directly to FERC about the South System Expansion 4 project. Need help? Call 334-231-7050, and we'll connect and guide you through the process step by step.

This is our chance to be heard. We have the right to ask tough questions and demand accountability. If pipelines truly brought prosperity, we would already see it here. Instead, we see risk, danger, and broken promises.

Let's stand together and tell FERC: our communities deserve better.

Portia Shepherd

Portia Shepherd is the Executive Director of Blackbelt Women Rising and the Host of the weekly radio show/podcast “Portia Takes On the Black Belt and Beyond”, which can be heard Friday afternoons on Facebook and on 106.5 The River, Demopolis Here or Here.

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