By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — A natural gas compressor station could be coming to the South Brunswick area despite a multitude of concerns by residents.
Williams Partners L.P. has announced that its subsidiary Transco has filed its official application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking authorization for its Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, which would create 400,000 dekatherms per day of incremental firm transportation capacity to markets in the northeastern United States for the 2019-20 winter heating season.
Williams Company operates the Transco natural gas pipeline that transports natural gas from south Texas to New York City. Williams is proposing the installation of a compressor station for connection to the Transco pipeline on a portion of the Trap Rock Quarry property located near the intersection of Route 27 and Promenade Boulevard in South Brunswick/Franklin Township to supply the Brooklyn and Rockaway areas of New York at the request of their customer, National Grid, according to a resolution passed by the South Brunswick Council in opposition to the plan in July 2016.
The proximity of the property to 377 single-family homes and townhomes in the Princeton Walk development, 100 individual homes in the Preserves and 198 townhomes at the Woods at Princeton Walk is the resounding concern of neighbors because of safety and noise issues.
Subject to approval by FERC, the NESE project will consist of approximately 10 miles of 42-inch pipeline looping facilities in Pennsylvania; three miles of onshore 26-inch looping facilities in New Jersey; 23 miles of offshore 26-inch looping facilities; the addition of 21,902 horsepower at an existing compressor station in Pennsylvania; a new 32,000 horsepower compressor station in Franklin; and related appurtenant facilities, according to Williams.
The certificate application reflects an expected capital cost of $926.5 million and a target in-service date of Dec. 1, 2019. Consistent with Williams’ practice for financial planning, the capital cost and in-service target are further risked to $1.01 billion and May 2020, according to the company.
For more information, visit www.northeastsupplyenhancement.com.