A 515-mile underground natural gas pipeline running through Alabama, Georgia and Florida is expected to be fully operational by the end of the month.
The Sabal Trail pipeline will be partially in use next week, according to the Opelika-Auburn News. The pipeline runs from a point near Alexander City, Alabama, to south of Orlando, Florida, in order to supply natural gas to Florida Power and Light and Duke Energy of Florida.
Sabal Trail Transmission spokeswoman Andrea Grover says the company has employed about 1,200 construction workers in Alabama and more than 6,000 for the entire project.
Sabal Trail's contractors have reportedly spent more than $32 million in Alabama communities for such things as equipment rentals, supplies, lodging and meals and vendors since September, according to Grover. She says the company first started communicating with landowners, public officials and others about the project in June 2013.
Construction preparation started in late August of 2013, and construction to begin installing the pipeline started after Labor Day.
The state of Alabama is estimated to receive more than $3.2 million in tax revenue each year once the pipeline is operating.
