New Jersey Towns Oppose Natural Gas Pipeline Compressor Station

Community Opposition to Pipeline Project

• 🏘️ Residents in two New Jersey towns, Franklin Township and Kendall Park, are actively fighting a proposed natural gas pipeline and compressor station.
• 🧘 Monks at a Buddhist temple express fear that the compressor station would destroy their serenity due to potential sounds and pollution.
• 🏠 Homeowners like Carol Kane are concerned about the proximity of the station, with one resident noting it would be built near exceptional wetlands and raising fears of water pollution.

Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESSIE)

• ⚡ The project, known as NESSIE, involves a 23-mile natural gas pipeline intended to run through central New Jersey communities and under Raritan Bay to Long Island.
• 🚨 Residents are worried about the safety implications of a potential explosion at the compressor station, especially since it would not be manned in New Jersey.
• 🏛️ The Franklin Township Council opposes the construction, but the project is under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Company's Stance and Re-submission

• 📜 Williams, the company behind the pipeline, states they will work with regulators to ensure the compressor station meets rigorous environmental and safety standards.
• 🛠️ The company claims the station will include advanced emissions controls and safety systems.
• 💡 Williams argues that NESSIE is designed to address natural gas supply constraints in the Northeast, aiming to improve reliability, reduce energy costs, and lower emissions.

Historical Context and Future Concerns

• ⏳ The company had previously defeated this project in 2019, but is now resubmitting the plan using old, lower standards compared to current ones.
• 🗓️ If reauthorized, residents believe construction could begin as early as December.
• 🗣️ A Williams spokesperson asserted the pipeline project is the cleanest and safest way to transport affordable natural gas.