Sabal Trail wants a second pipeline and bigger compressor stations 2026-08-03

Sabal Trail proposes to add another fracked methane pipeline alongside the one it plowed under the Withlacoochee, Suwannee, Santa Fe, and Withlacoochee (South) Rivers almost a decade ago, plus bigger compressor stations in Suwannee and Marion Counties, Florida, and elsewhere.

What “economic development” could eat such a doubling of pipeline capacity? I know of only one candidate: hyper-scale AI datacenters, powered by gas plants such as the one rumored in Mitchell County, Georgia, near the Sabal Trail pipeline.

Sabal Trail wants a second pipeline and bigger compressor stations, 2026-08-03

The first person to post this letter online was apparently Jodi Brantley, today, August 14, 2026. Others confirm that multiple landowners received this letter. The gist of the letter is on Sabal Trail’s own website:

https://www.sabaltrailtransmission.com/Project

This is not the long-delayed Project Phase III, which was supposed to add 75 million cubic feet per day. That one was originally supposed to be in service May 1, 2021, but got extended until May 1, 2023, and again to May 1, 2025, and most recently to May 1, 2027.

This Sabal Trail Expansion is a new project.

The current Sabal Trail pipeline “is capable of transporting over 1 billion cubic feet per day or more of natural gas to serve local distribution companies, industrial users and natural gas-fired power generators in the Southeast markets.”

So a second pipeline could add another billion cubic feet per day.

Sabal Trail’s excuses are:

The primary objectives of this project are to:

Meet the growing energy demand driven by population growth and economic development in the regions served by the existing Sabal Trail system. Provide firm transportation service to new high-volume customers seeking affordable and reliable natural gas supply.
Enhance overall system flexibility and reliability for all existing customers.
Continue delivering an essential, low-emission energy source that supports energy affordability, grid stability and economic growth.

Population has not suddenly doubled. What “economic development” could eat such a doubling of pipeline capacity?

I know of only one candidate: hyper-scale AI datacenters.

Such as this one: James Irvin, WALB, July 14, 2026, Rumored data center power plant raises concerns in Mitchell County.

Sabal Trail runs through Mitchel County, Georgia.

Re: Proposed Sabal Trail Extension and Sabal Trail Expansion, 2026-08-03 –Sabal Trail Transmission