Williams launches Transco pipeline expansions

Williams announced on Tuesday the commissioning of the Southeast Energy Connector in Alabama and the Texas to Louisiana Energy Pathway along the Gulf Coast.

The Texas to Louisiana Energy Pathway project expands Transco’s capacity in Texas and Louisiana by 364 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) to support “reliability and diversification of energy infrastructure along the Gulf Coast, a growing demand center for domestic needs and LNG export activity,” the firm said.

Moreover, the Southeast Energy Connector supports the conversion of electric power generation in Alabama from coal to natural gas and provides 150 MMcf/d of natural gas to meet the area’s “clean” energy needs.

Williams said natural gas is “critical” to reducing carbon emissions and providing the flexibility needed to support a growing renewables component in power generation.

The completed expansions follow recent record-breaking natural gas transmission volumes.

Transco recorded 19 of the 20 highest-volume days ever this past winter, driven by a combination of heating, electric power generation loads, and LNG exports along the Transco corridor, it said.

Williams owns and operates Transco, a 10,000-plus-mile natural gas transportation system extending from South Texas to New York City.

The US is the world’s largest LNG exporter.

Currently, the US exports LNG via Cheniere’s Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals, Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass and Plaquemnes LNG facilities, Sempra Infrastructure’s Cameron LNG terminal, the Freeport LNG facility, the Cove Point LNG facility, and the Elba Island terminal.

Two new LNG export facilities—Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 and Corpus Christi Stage 3—started LNG production in December 2024.