A controversial natural gas pipeline project is now moving forward. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has approved key permits for the Northeast Supply Enhancement — or “NESE” — pipeline.
The NESE pipeline is a proposal by the Transco Company — a subsidiary of energy giant Williams — and it would dredge up and build a 23-mile natural gas pipeline through Raritan Bay in New Jersey and into Lower New York Bay. It’s meant to boost natural gas supplies to National Grid downstate customers — especially in Brooklyn and Queens.
The project has faced years of pushback from environmental groups — worried about the impacts to water quality, fragile marine life, and New York’s clean energy goals. The DEC has rejected this project in the past for those reasons.
“This pipeline, as state officials themselves said before, poses an unacceptable risk to water quality. Today, for reasons they can’t articulate in any sound way, they are completely reversing course,” said Mark Izeman, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
“The only thing that’s changed is pressure from the federal government and from the oil and gas industry to build this pipeline,” said Izeman.
The DEC states it conducted a comprehensive review of the application, which involved considerations to updated or revised state and federal requirements that weren’t in place during the 2020 review.
The state is requiring environmental safeguards including on-site, independent, third-party monitors that will directly oversee project implementation, strict construction time windows to protect species like hard clams, sturgeon, and winter flounder, and a dredge management plan must be followed to prevent contaminants from clouding the water in the New York and Raritan Bays.
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“We are pleased that following a detailed review, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has granted the necessary water quality permits to advance the NESE pipeline, which will bolster critical energy reliability across New York City and Long Island. National Grid is committed to delivering secure, affordable, and clean energy to the communities we serve and firmly believe Governor Hochul’s all-of-the-above energy strategy is critical to advancing the state’s economic growth and resiliency,” said Sally Libera, President of National Grid NY.