Florida’s Sabal Trail Pipeline to begin operation

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently approved Phase I of the Sabal Trail pipeline, which will transport natural gas to Florida, to begin full operation.

The Sabal Trail pipeline is a 515-mile interstate natural gas pipeline transporting natural gas from an interconnection with the Transco pipeline in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, to the Central Florida Hub in Osceola County, Florida.

Sabal Trail Phase I will have a total capacity of 810 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d). When all three phases are completed in 2021, Sabal Trail’s total capacity will reach 1,050 MMcf/d.

At the Central Florida Hub, the Sabal Trail pipeline connects with the Florida Southeast Connection and
other major central Florida pipelines, which deliver natural gas throughout the region.

Sabal Trail is one of three Southeast Market Pipelines projects designed to increase Florida’s natural gas capacity.

Florida has added 3.4 gigawatts (GW) of natural gas-fired generating capacity since the start of 2016, which is more than any other state. Another 3.9 GW is expected to be added over the next six years.

The new natural gas capacity has replaced older coal- and oil-fired capacity. Florida is not located near any major natural gas productions areas and is not suited for underground natural gas storage, so the state needs to meet increasing demand through new pipelines.