What is Transco SSEP?
- Williams Companies, which operates a network of national pipelines, has applied to build the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, one of the largest pipelines by volume proposed in a decade.
- The project would expand its Transco network of high pressure, methane gas pipelines in five states: VA, NC, SC, GA, and AL.
- SSEP would pump 1.6 billion cubic feet of methane gas per day through a 42 inch diameter pipeline. That is the same as trying to move 18,123 full Olympic sized swimming pools through a hula hoop per day.
- SSEP includes compressor station expansions, and the horrible air quality and health impacts that come with them.
- About 93% of the gas will go to three large companies and be used for power generation.
- A recent report by Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis found that the rush to build fossil fuel infrastructure in the Southeast, including SSEP, is in large part due to data center demand and is at risk of being overbuilt, based on their findings.
Important Updates
5/5/25: Midway Town Council passes resolution opposing Transco’s Southeast Supply Enhancement Projec
Midway became the first municipality to pass a resolution against the proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC — a subsidiary of Williams Companies, commonly referred to as Transco — wants to construct 54 miles of methane gas pipeline and increase the horsepower of compressor stations in Virginia and North Carolina.
SSEP, if permitted and built, could include 10 miles of 42-inch-wide pipeline in Davidson County and a large proposed expansion of the gas-fired compressor station off of Becky Hill Road, northwest of Lexington. The town of Midway would be directly impacted by the proposed pipeline route.
Midway Town Council voted 4-1 to oppose SSEP, citing concerns over safety and negative impacts to land and water resources. The town is seeking to invest in the expansion of Midway Town Park, which would be located in the pipeline’s evacuation zone, just 0.8 miles from the proposed route. Also, the proposed compressor station expansion would increase harmful air pollution in an area that is already burdened by pollutants that can lead to adverse health problems. The town council asked Transco “to thoroughly investigate the option of a no-build alternative and to publicly report the findings with full detail and transparency.”
4/22/25: Transco submits North Carolina air permit applications for SSEP
This week, Transco applied for two air permits to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) for its massive proposed methane gas pipeline, the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP).
If permitted and built, SSEP would install 55 miles of 42-inch high pressure pipeline through North Carolina and Virginia, impact nearly 1,500 acres of land, make more than 100 individual waterbody crossings in 16 watersheds, and dramatically expand two compressor stations in Iredell and Davidson Counties, North Carolina, where communities are already suffering some of the worst air pollution in the state.
The application process for SSEP’s air permits will include a public comment period, and could include public hearings.
1/22/25: FERC decides SSEP will undergo EA instead of more thorough EIS
After calls from thousands of members of the public for a full Environmental Impact Statement for SSEP, on January 22, FERC announced they would prepare the more abbreviated Environmental Assessment. They also announced there would only be a 30 day public comment period, occurring at the end of 2025. Of note, per federal regulations, if “the EA determines that the environmental impacts of a proposed Federal action will be significant, an Environmental Impact Statement is prepared.” You can submit comments in response to the news of the EA, or in opposition to the project at www.ferc.gov, Docket No. CP25-10-100.
What can you do right now?
After calls from thousands of members of the public for a full Environmental Impact Statement for SSEP, on January 22, FERC announced they would prepare the more abbreviated Environmental Assessment. They also announced there would only be a 30 day public comment period, occurring at the end of 2025. Of note, per federal regulations, if “the EA determines that the environmental impacts of a proposed Federal action will be significant, an Environmental Impact Statement is prepared.” You can submit comments in response to the news of the EA, or in opposition to the project at www.ferc.gov, Docket No. CP25-10-100.
What you can do right now:
- Submit a comment directly to FERC asking for a full “EIS”!
- Comment guide (submit an eComment in Docket No. CP25-10-000 at ferc.gov)
- Submit an eComment
- Sample language for short comment:
- Disappointed that the public voice was ignored and an EA is to be drafted, instead of an EIS.
- The public comment period should be 90 days, instead of 30, and FERC public hearings should be held in each county along the route.
- Given the scale of this project, and its potential impacts to water, air, species and communities, the most robust environmental review possible should occur, the EA should ultimately require a full Environmental Impact Statement.
- Talking points for personalized comment
- Additional taking points can be found on https://nossep.org/no-ssep-2
- Williams Transco’s safety record is worse than other gas pipeline operators in # of incidents
- FERC should assess a “no-action alternative”
- FERC should offer 90-day public comment period
- The Cumulative impacts of SSEP’s co-location with MVP Southgate should be considered
- SSEP would create a steep increase in harmful air pollution emissions, most especially at Stations 150 and 155
- SSEP would produce 30,950,000 metric tons per year of carbon emissions = 0.52% of entire nations carbon emissions = 7,366,156 gas powered cars per year
- This project interferes with North Carolina state law requiring Duke Energy (main customer of SSEP) to reduce its carbon emissions
Visit our toolkit for a step by step guide.
“Letters to the Editor” –or “LTEs”– are a fantastic way to advocate for an issue. LTE published in a print or online newspaper can help inform new audiences on an issue and correct false information.
- Click here for the No SSEP LTE guide
- Click here for the No T-15 LTE guide
We encourage you to call or email your NC State Representatives and Commissioners to share your concerns and ask them to oppose the projects:
- Refer to the talking points on the “Letter to the Editor” handout (see above)
- Share your story!
- Ask questions
- How do they feel about the project?
- What do they know?
- How do they feel about protecting property rights?
- Find your reps contact info by inputting your address here on this website:
Click here and fill out the form to request a yard sign
Make your voice heard! Sign the petitions:
TO OAK RIDGE MAYOR & COUNCIL
TO GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
TO GREENSBORO MAYOR & COUNCIL
TO GREENSBORO MAYOR & COUNCIL
TO GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
TO GREENSBORO MAYOR & COUNCIL
TO GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
TO GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
TO GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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