In a setback for the race to mitigate climate warming, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved plans by Williams Companies to expand natural gas pipeline capacity across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
The Transco Regional Energy Access Expansion Project (REAE) would involve miles of new pipeline construction, expansion of two compressor stations in New Jersey (in Branchburg and Old Bridge), and construction of a new compressor station in West Deptford, Gloucester County.
It would expand pipeline capacity by 829,000 dekatherms and greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey by 16%. One dekatherm is 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups plan to appeal the decision and are urging NJ Gov. Phil Murphy to block the pipeline expansion, as it would undermine the state’s goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and perpetuate the state’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The FERC decision ignores a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and Ratepayer Advocate filing with FERC that found the REAE project to be unnecessary for the state’s energy supply. A BPU-commissioned report shows current gas infrastructure will be able to meet demand through 2030, even during peak usage in cold winter weather.
“Once again FERC rubber-stamped another fossil fuel project that is unneeded in New Jersey. It will contribute to an increase of methane gas releases and exacerbate climate change. There is no need for more natural gas in New Jersey, and our residents certainly do not need to be paying for it,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, director of the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club.
“The expansion of more fossil fuel projects like the REAE will make it more difficult to advance clean renewable energy investments, and for New Jersey to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets,” she said.
Other groups in opposition to REAE include New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, Food & Water Watch, ReThink Energy NJ, and Clean Air Council.