By Frank Mustac, Special Writer
The process by which the fate of the proposed PennEast pipeline will be decided by a federal agency has been delayed.
A final ruling on the project from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is now set to come by March 2017, about seven months after the PennEast company originally requested a decision date by August 2016.
An environmental impact statement for the planned project is scheduled for completion by December 2016, according to an announcement issued by FERC on March 29.
Opponents of the proposed 118-mile-long, 36-inch diameter pressurized natural gas pipeline see the delay as proof of the effectiveness of their organized and sustained resistance to the project.
PennEast Pipeline Company officials, however, see it differently. Spokeswoman Patricia Kornick commented on the schedule changes made in the company’s application process with FERC.
“Whether it be construction of a highway, bridge or pipeline, there are many variables that can affect proposed timelines of major infrastructure projects, including the PennEast pipeline project,” she said. “PennEast now anticipates the pipeline will be operational the second half of 2018, rather than late November 2017.”
“Though PennEast has revised its timeline, PennEast is steadfast in its commitment to developing the PennEast pipeline project to safely deliver clean energy, cost savings and increased reliability to local natural gas and electric consumers.”
The company is waiting for approvals from FERC for a permit to start construction of the proposed the $1 billion-plus gas transmission line that would begin in Luzerne County, Pa., near Wilkes-Barre and pass through parts of Hunterdon and Mercer counties in New Jersey and end at a junction with an existing pipeline in southeastern Hopewell Township near Blackwell Road.
PennEast specifically is requesting that FERC issue what’s called a certificate of public convenience and necessity. The pipeline company made its application to the U.S. government agency in September.
Patty Cronheim, outreach coordinator for the “ReThink Energy NJ” campaign, spoke about the ongoing opposition. The ReThink campaign was launched, in part, by the N.J. Conservation Foundation.
“There is massive opposition to PennEast with 70 percent of all New Jersey homeowners refusing PennEast survey access to their properties,” said Ms. Cronheim, a founding member of Hopewell Township Citizens Against the PennEast Pipeline. “It’s going to be very hard for PennEast to prove to FERC that their pipeline is for public benefit instead of just for their own profit.”
Tom Gilbert, campaign director at the N.J. Conservation Foundation, said, “Penn East’s lack of responsiveness to FERC’s request for critical information has caused the project to be significantly delayed.”
