June 2019, Vol. 246, No. 6
Projects
New York Regulators Deny Permit for Key Gas Pipeline
State environmental regulators in New York denied a water quality permit for a 24-mile (39-km) underwater pipeline from New Jersey to Queens designed to meet rising demand for natural gas in New York City and Long Island.
The Northeast Supply Enhancement (NSE) project would expand the Transco pipeline, which extends from Texas to the Northeast Coast. It would allow National Grid to bring natural gas from Pennsylvania’s shale gas fields to the metropolitan region.
Chris Stockton, a spokesman for the pipeline developer, Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams Partners, said Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) “raised a minor technical issue” with the company’s application, adding the request would be resubmitted quickly.
“We are confident that we can be responsive to this technical concern, meet our customer’s in-service date and avoid a moratorium that would have a devastating impact on the regional economy and environment,” he said.
New Jersey regulators have until June 5 to decide on the project. The pipeline was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on May 3.
National Grid says the project is crucial because existing pipeline infrastructure is at capacity and natural gas demand is projected to rise 10% in the next decade in the New York City region.
Opponents claim the need for a pipeline can be avoided through energy efficiency measures and installation of heat pumps in homes and small apartment buildings.
New York regulators denied a permit for another Williams project extending eastward from Pennsylvania’s gas fields, the Constitution Pipeline, in 2016, citing threats to wetlands. A lawsuit filed by the company is pending. P&GJ
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