Duke Energy has bought a 7.5% ownership stake in the proposed $3 billion Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline, which would would traverse Alabama, Georgia and Florida to meet natural gas demand in those states. Duke’s commercial power business unit plans to invest $225 million over the next seven years in the 500-mile pipeline that would run from Tallapoosa County, AL, to Osceola County, FL. The company expects to invest more than 90% of those funds in the next three years, it said. The pipeline, scheduled to begin service in 2017, requires federal and other regulatory approvals. Sabal Trail Transmission is a joint venture of the Spectra Energy (59.5%), NextEra Energy Inc. (33%), and now Duke (see Daily GPI, Nov. 21, 2014). Duke acquired its ownership share from Spectra.