- The project would transport natural gas from Pennsylvania through New Jersey to the New York City area.
- Williams states the project will provide economic benefits, create jobs, and lower CO2 emissions.
- Environmental groups oppose the decision, citing potential damage to wetlands, water quality, and marine habitats.
Environmental groups have expressed strong opposition to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) decision to issue water permits for the controversial Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) natural gas pipeline and a compressor station.
The DEP’s decision came Nov. 7, a day after New York State issued permits for the $1 billion project which would transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to the New York City area through an underground pipeline that cuts through Hunterdon, Somerset and Middlesex counties to Raritan Bay where a submarine pipeline will take the gas to Long Island.
The project also includes plans for a 32,000-horsepower gas compressor near the border of Franklin and South Brunswick.
“We’re proud to move NESE forward and do our part in providing New Yorkers access to clean, reliable and affordable natural gas,” said Chad Zamarin, president and CEO of Williams, in a statement after the New York approval. “This project reflects our commitment to deliver clean and reliable energy, while lowering energy costs and supporting economic growth and environmental stewardship.”
According to Williams, the NESE project is designed to meet market needs of, providing $1.8 billion in economic development, delivering gas to 2.3 million homes, and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 13,000 tons per year
Williams also said the project will support more than 3,000 jobs and generate millions in revenue for the state tax revenues for the states.
Environmental advocates were quick to condemn the DEP’s decision.
“New Jersey’s decision to follow New York and approve permits for the unnecessary and dangerous NESE pipeline is deeply disappointing and tone-deaf – especially just days after voters across the state reaffirmed their strong support for protecting our environment and rejecting the Trump-era agenda that favors big oil CEOs profits over people and the planet,” said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters “The New Jersey DEP already determined in 2020 that this project failed to meet the state’s environmental standards – nothing has changed since then, this is all playing misguided politics which is driving up energy costs. Governor Murphy must stand with New Jersey families, not fossil fuel CEOs, and once again deny the air permits for this unnecessary, expensive, and harmful pipeline.”
The groups have vowed to continue the fight against the project.
“We are disappointed and stunned by the decisions from both New Jersey and New York,” said Taylor McFarland, conservation program manager of the NJ Sierra Club “This fossil fuel project now has the approval to rip through and permanently destroy critical wetlands in Middlesex and Monmouth counties and pollute the Raritan and Hudson bays Although this is a major disappointment, we will continue to fight Williams Transco to protect our environment and public health.”
“New Jersey has completely disregarded its past two, sound decisions to reject this pipeline over threats to the state’s water quality,” said Mark Izeman, the Natural Resources Defense Council’s senior attorney for environmental health. “This pipeline threatens not only wetlands across New Jersey, but also would tear up the sea floor of Raritan and Sandy Hook bays. If built, the pipeline would destroy marine habitats; and dredge up mercury, copper, PCBs and other toxins. The pipeline would harm sensitive shellfish beds and fishing areas, and undercut billions of dollars New Jersey and New York have invested to improve water quality in the Harbor.”
Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com
