NJ Assemblyman John McKeon Cheers Demise Of PennEast Pipeline

NEW JERSEY — Are you interested in a “more livable, sustainable world?” Then be glad that the developers have abandoned their plans to run a massive, natural gas pipeline through New Jersey and Pennsylvania, a state assemblyman says.

John McKeon, who represents the 27th District, was among those cheering Monday’s news that developers of the controversial PennEast pipeline are pulling the plug over permitting issues.

The 27th District includes Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Livingston, Madison, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange and West Orange.

• See related article: PennEast Cancels Pipeline Project In NJ, PA

The 115-mile pipeline, which would have brought more than 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Marcellus Shale Formation in Pennsylvania to Mercer County, was not able to obtain the necessary state permits for development, even though it had secured approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

About one-third of the pipeline’s route would have been located in New Jersey, developers said.

McKeon released the following statement about the decision:

“New Jersey has been fighting against the unnecessary construction of this detrimental pipeline for years. At a time when climate change poses a real existential threat, we must do everything in our power to protect our environment. A natural gas pipeline is antithetical to our ongoing efforts to create a more livable, sustainable world through clean energy and conservation. PennEast’s decision to drop their plans for this project is nothing short of a victory for our state.”

Gov. Phil Murphy, state regulators, and environmental groups have consistently opposed the pipeline on "Not in My Back Yard" grounds. They’ve contended the project would destroy open spaces, threaten the Delaware River watershed, and trample property rights via eminent domain claims.

However, according to PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC, the project would have also had benefits for New Jersey residents:

“By helping to alleviate existing pipeline constraints, PennEast will increase reliability, reduce costs and stabilize energy prices, particularly in times of high demand generally associated with storms and extreme weather conditions. Families and businesses in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York will reap the benefits of an environmentally beneficial, locally produced supply of natural gas that serves a variety of everyday uses — including home heating and electricity.”

Developers also claimed that the pipeline’s construction would have had a $1.62 billion “positive economic impact” and supported about 12,000 jobs.

• See related article: PennEast Developers Pull Plug On Pipeline, $1.2 Billion In Investments

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