A small but determined group of opponents to Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline gathered in downtown Kyle for the first of two protests last week.

Carrying signs that said “Safe pipelines don’t exist” and “Clean energy now,” they encouraged passing motorists to honk their support, and many did as they passed the corner of Center and Burleson.

At issue is the routing of the 42-inch, natural gas pipeline through some of the most environmentally-sensitive ar...