Frequently Asked Questions

NAPED is a regional cooperative formed in July 2025 by the cities of Huntsville, Athens, and Scottsboro. Its target counties include Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Marshall, and DeKalb.

NAPED is a regional planning effort to evaluate infrastructure and future energy needs in North Alabama. It is a formal structure to research, coordinate, and pursue funding opportunities for long-term solutions and represents a proactive step to put North Alabama in control of its future infrastructure and energy needs. It provides the opportunity for communities to work together across the region on shared infrastructure challenges.

NAPED is currently evaluating the installation of an additional natural gas intrastate transmission pipeline in north Alabama. This initiative is called the Valley Energy Pipeline Project.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide critical infrastructure to address natural gas capacity constraints in north Alabama.

The project location includes portions of Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, and Jackson counties in North Alabama.

Yes. Stakeholder and public meetings will be held at locations in the study area soon. Notifications of planned upcoming meetings will be advertised on the project website at https://www.napublicenergy.org/.

A Public Involvement Meeting is an open forum where community members can learn about a proposed project, ask questions, and provide feedback before decisions are made.

Meetings are being held to share project information, gather public input, and ensure transparency in the decision-making process.

The meetings will be hosted by NAPED, who is overseeing the project.

Yes. The Public Involvement Meetings will be open to all community members, stakeholders, and interested parties.

Submit written comments at this meeting, email the project team via the website provided, mail written feedback or participate in future public involvement meetings.

Yes. All public comments are documented and reviewed as part of the decision-making process.

The project team will review comments, make revisions if needed, and proceed to the next phase. Updates will be shared when available.

Initially for study purposes there will be little to no effects. Surveyors will walk the property along the corridor collecting environmental and archaeological information. Should they need to park vehicles to perform their work you may see them on-site temporarily near the corridor. Should work continue, assuming study results are positive additional impacts will be explained more thoroughly. Mitigation efforts will be implemented throughout the preliminary and design processes.

The project is currently in the planning phase. Schedule information will be updated on the project website when available.

To evaluate the natural obstacles and terrain challenges along the corridor, support environmental and archaeological permitting requirements, and assess the field conditions for the viability of pipeline installation.