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Regional utilities describe $1.1 billion plan for 137-mile gas pipeline; Jackson County asked to cooperate on rights-of-way
Summary
Scottsboro Water, Sewer & Gas and partner utilities briefed the Jackson County Commission on an early-stage plan to build a 137-mile, 36-inch natural-gas pipeline through North Alabama under a new North Alabama Public Energy District; the project would be publicly owned and could take several years to finance and build.
Representatives of regional utilities told the Jackson County Commission they have formed the North Alabama Public Energy District and are in early-stage planning for a 137-mile, 36-inch natural-gas pipeline estimated at roughly $1.1 billion.
Jimmy Green, chair of the newly formed district and a representative of Scottsboro Water, Sewer & Gas, said the region's existing pipelines are largely fully subscribed and that businesses and some utilities already face interruptible service at peak demand. Green said the district was formed in July 2025 with Scottsboro Water, Sewer & Gas, Athens Utilities and Huntsville Utilities participating; the district could add additional utilities and public entities as the project develops.
Green described the project as intended to increase regional natural-gas capacity to serve residential growth, industry and potential power-generation needs. He said early estimates put the project cost in the roughly $1.1 billion range for a roughly 137-mile route using a 36-inch pipe, and that planning assumes the line would remain inside Alabama to avoid additional federal regulatory complications.
"I think Jackson County, of all the counties that are needing it, Jackson County needs it the worst," Green said, urging local cooperation on routing and public right-of-way access.
Green said the plan remains in early phases (due-diligence and routing), that federal and state permits would be required, and that the district is pursuing financing and long-term capacity agreements. He estimated a multi-year timeline and said a best-case construction window could be about five years from a finance/permission decision, though he cautioned environmental permits and other factors could extend that schedule.
Commissioners and district representatives discussed potential economic-development benefits, the need for public right-of-way access to reduce cost, and the district's governance structure (a board including representation from participating utilities). No formal county commitment or vote was requested at the meeting; district representatives asked only for future cooperation on routing and right-of-way access.
