Donate
Despite years of widespread public opposition and previous permit denials, the controversial Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline project has received final approval to move forward through New Jersey’s coastal waters and wetlands — a decision environmental advocates say represents a major setback for the state’s clean energy future.
On May 6, the Tidelands Resource Council voted unanimously to approve a license allowing Williams Transco to construct and operate the pipeline through New Jersey tidal wetlands and the Raritan Bay. The approval marks the latest chapter in a yearslong battle over the pipeline expansion project, which had previously been rejected after state regulators determined it was unnecessary and posed serious environmental risks.
Environmental advocates and community groups across New Jersey condemned the decision, arguing the approval reverses years of public engagement and environmental review.
“We are deeply disappointed by the approval of WIlliam Transco’s NESE pipeline, a dirty fossil fuel project that will raise utility bills in the region, threaten the health of New Jersey residents, and put out air and waterways at risk,” said Patty Cronheim, Program Director of ReThink Energy NJ. “We should be investing in clean, renewable energy, not locking families into more pollution and higher costs while large load and data centers profit at our expense.”
The NESE project has faced fierce opposition from environmental organizations, local residents, and clean energy advocates for years. Critics warn the pipeline would lock the region into decades of additional fossil fuel dependence while threatening sensitive marine ecosystems, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and exposing nearby communities to greater environmental and public health risks.
ReThink Energy NJ said the project’s revival was ultimately driven by political maneuvering and federal-level dealmaking, despite earlier determinations that the pipeline was both environmentally harmful and unnecessary.
Still, advocates emphasize that the fight is far from over and urge Gov. Mikie Sherrill to overturn the ruling and block the project from advancing further. Despite the setback, public engagement remains critical as legal and political efforts surrounding the project continue in the months ahead.
