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Contact: Chris Miller, cmiller@easternenvironmental.org, (973) 424-1166
Report Finds No Need for Damaging Williams Transco NESE Pipeline Across Raritan Bay
Opponents call on agencies to reject William Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project given the faulty premise for the project
Newark, NJ (April 7th, 2020) - A proposed gas pipeline across Raritan Bay is an oversized, costly answer to a New York problem that does not exist, a new report finds.
Eastern Environmental Law Center today released an expert report by Synapse Energy Economics showing that Williams/Transco’s proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline project, which would transport fracked natural gas through New Jersey from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania to energy markets in New York City, is completely unneeded. Rebutting National Grid’s Long-Term Capacity Report submitted to New York State, Synapses’ report concludes “National Grid has not shown that it faces a supply and demand gap. In fact, National Grid is expected to have a substantial surplus of supply capacity by 2034/35.” Synapse Report
“Given the undeniable evidence against any need for NESE in New York, the complete lack of public benefit for New Jersey, and the harmful environmental and health impacts posed by this project, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) should deny the pending permit applications for this pipeline,” said Chris Miller, executive director, Eastern Environmental Law Center
The NESE project would primarily consist of a new compressor station in Somerset County, NJ, increased pipeline pressure and capacity throughout existing Pennsylvania and New Jersey pipelines, and almost twenty-seven miles of new pipeline from Sayreville, New Jersey across the Raritan Bay to gas terminals in Rockaway Queens, New York.
In addition to finding error in National Grid’s assessment of supply and demand for New York, Synapse concluded that the ‘No Infrastructure’ option is substantially cheaper than all of National Grids’ large infrastructure options including the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline and LNG terminal options. They found that National Grid significantly overestimated the cost of incremental energy efficiency and did not take into account the avoided costs of natural gas throughout and beyond the study period, or the avoided costs of carbon emissions, in its cost-benefit analysis.
EELC has submitting the new Synapse report along with expert environmental reports to NJDEP showing that NESE does not comply with the state of New Jersey’s environmental regulations. Both the New York Environmental Commission (NYDEC) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have permits currently under review and have previously denied the permits for the project, recognizing the significant impacts to water, wildlife, and the safety and health of communities.
“This new, fact based, report on the complete lack of need for the NESE project makes it evident that the NJDEP as well as the New York permitting authorities must once again deny all permits and put an end to this pipeline,” said Michele Langa, Staff Attorney at NY/NJ Baykeeper. “There is zero justification to permit construction of this pipeline that would dredge up toxic sediments in Raritan Bay, disturb 14,000 acres of habitat for shellfish, horseshoe crabs, and marine mammals, and cause significant impacts and economic harm to commercial fishermen, boaters, and marinas.
“New York and now New Jersey have previously rejected NESE as a project that is not in the public interest – now that this report shows it’s not even needed by New Yorkers, they have more reason than ever to do deny it again,” said Kevin Corcoran of Central New Jersey Safe Energy Coalition. “It is time to put a final end to this flimflam project that jeopardizes our health and safety.”
"We've known for years that Williams' Transco's proposed NESE pipeline would be a disaster for public health, safety and our environment, and with today's new report we can add completely unnecessary", said Matt Smith, NJ State Director for Food & Water Watch. "Both New York and New Jersey are wisely moving away from polluting fossil fuels, and NESE would needlessly take us in the wrong direction in the race against climate catastrophe. We need Governor Murphy and Governor Cuomo to once again demonstrate the leadership we need to stop this destructive and ill-conceived project once and for all."
“The NESE proposal seeks to ruin our bay, pollute our water and air, violate our laws and undercut the green energy future, which is why it is opposed by the vast majority of people in New York and New Jersey. Importantly, this new study affirms it is not needed so what’s the point. It’s now clear that the only beneficiary is the greedy fossil fuel industry. Clearly the project must be stopped,” Cindy Zipf, Executive Director, Clean Ocean Action
Pradip Chakravarti, of Princeton Manor Homeowners Association, a community that would be in the immediate vicinity of the project’s proposed compressor station, stated “we implore the NJDEP to deny this pipeline that would unnecessarily increase our regions’ reliance on fossil fuels while jeopardizing our health and well-being. As a senior living community, we are very concerned about the degradation to our air, water quality that NESE posed, as well as the increased risk to our safety”.
“Transco’s NESE Pipeline is clearly unneeded. First the Rocky Mountain Institute analysis showed NY does not need this natural gas and then today’s report from Synapse Energy concluded as well NY does not need NESE,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of New Jersey LCV. The NESE pipeline could spell disaster for the environment, and communities throughout central New Jersey and should be stopped. Approving this project could derail our strong and aggressive efforts to achieve our 100% clean energy and decarbonized future. At a time when New Jersey is regaining the title as a leader in the climate fight, this would be a terrible step back. We urge the New Jersey DEP to reject this project.”
The final Synapse Report can be downloaded HERE
The Eastern Environmental Law Center (EELC) represents NY/NJ Baykeeper, Food & Water Watch – New Jersey, Central Jersey Safe Energy Coalition, and the Princeton Manor Homeowners Association, who have numerous concerns regarding the NESE Project. Many of the individual members of these clients live close by the proposed new compressor station and pipelines included in the Project.