Energy Transfer outlines 520‑mile Desert Southwest pipeline; 18 miles would cross Grant County
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Summary
Energy Transfer told Grant County commissioners the Desert Southwest natural gas pipeline would run roughly 520 miles from Texas to Arizona; the company said the project would affect about 18 miles in Grant County with a 60‑foot permanent easement and expects a FERC pre‑filing in 2028. The presentation produced questions about routing and co‑location with existing infrastructure.
SILVER CITY, N.M. — Representatives of Energy Transfer briefed the Grant County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 12 about the Desert Southwest pipeline project, describing routing, capacity and a local footprint in Grant County.
Lawrence Fortenay, an Energy Transfer representative, said the Desert Southwest project is approximately 520 miles in length with a 48‑inch diameter and an initial capacity of about 1.53 billion cubic feet per day, upgradeable in the future. He said the company is in a survey and outreach phase and plans a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) pre‑filing in early 2028 ahead of permitting and potential construction phases.
Fortenay said the project would directly affect roughly 18 miles in Grant County and estimated a permanent easement width of about 60 feet, representing approximately 115 acres of permanent linear impact within the county. Company staff said they prefer co‑locating with existing infrastructure corridors to minimize new disturbance.
Commissioners asked about routing relative to Interstate 10 and existing pipeline corridors, and Energy Transfer said it plans to coordinate with other project owners to avoid construction conflicts. The company also described outreach to federal and state agencies, private landowners and military land managers as part of the survey phase.
No county approvals were requested or taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and the company left contact information for follow‑up.
