Stop the Proposed Timeline Extension for the Harmful Williams NESE Fracked Gas Pipeline

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Goal: 300

Back in 2020, a tremendous coalition of organizations, groups, elected officials, and concerned community members banded together to block the Williams NESE fracked gas Pipeline from being built off the waters of New York and New Jersey. But Big Oil and Gas is patient - the 2020 ruling allows Williams to reapply to the federal government (an agency called FERC - the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) periodically, by asking for a time extension to resubmit. Williams is hoping that people like you will forget about this pipeline and allow it to be approved unnoticed!

FERC granted Williams an extension in May 2021 and Williams is now asking for another two year extension, even though no work has been done since their previous granted extension.

This project threatens environmental quality, recreational opportunities, and puts us on the absolute wrong track to combat climate change, locking us into 50 more years of fossil fuel dependence.

Please take a few minutes and sign our petition asking the federal government not to extend the Williams Pipeline FERC extension!

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Dear [recipient position will go here] [recipient name will go here],

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I oppose granting Williams Transco (Williams) a two year extension to their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certificate of public convenience and necessity for the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline (the Project).

Williams is requesting a second, two year extension (until May 3, 2025) for their proposed fracked methane gas pipeline that would run offshore from New Jersey to the Rockaways, New York.

The Project threatens environmental quality, recreational opportunities, and puts us on the wrong track to combat climate change. The combined ocean recreation and tourism economy in New York and New Jersey generates over $28 billion in GDP and 460,000 jobs every year.

In their first request for a time extension, on March 19, 2021, Williams cited the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming that the states of New York and New Jersey based their permit rejections on declining needs for energy during the pandemic. That claim was factually untrue, as the permits were denied on May 15, 2020, only a few months into the pandemic, after years of review by both states. The main reason the Project was rejected was for water quality reasons, a situation that has not changed since the water quality permits were denied. 

In fact, Williams has not applied for any new water quality permits or made any efforts to further the Project in the last two years. Their most recent letter does not mention any efforts on their part, only, “that the continuing need for the NESE Project is demonstrated by the 15-year term precedent agreements with National Grid for the entirety of the NESE Project’s capacity, which remain in full force and effect”. 

Citing the existence of a six year old agreement to purchase the natural gas from the Project proves nothing. Since 2021, the price of energy alternatives such as solar, wind, and battery storage have continued to drop dramatically, and climate change science has caused the public to become increasingly concerned about the impacts of climate change from burning fossil fuels. The risk of the Project becoming shortly obsolete, if constructed, has only grown.

Furthermore, both NY and NJ have taken steps to reduce usage of natural gas. On May 3, 2023, NY Governor Hochul signed into law the current State Budget which bans gas-powered stoves, furnaces and propane heating in all new buildings by 2029. On February 15, 2023, NJ Governor Murphy Signed Executive Orders No. 317 and 316, to initiate a process to reduce emissions from the natural gas sector by 50 percent by 2030, installing zero-carbon-emission space heating and cooling systems in 400,000 homes and 20,000 commercial properties and make 10% of all low-to-moderate income properties electrification-ready by 2030, respectively.

Williams has not worked on this Project in any fashion for the last two years. The Project is not needed and instead will threaten environmental quality, recreational opportunities, and put us on the wrong track to combat climate change. We, the undersigned, recommend that FERC deny Williams’ request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity time extension for the Project.

Sincerely,
[your name will go here] [your location will go here]

[node:og-group-ref] will keep [submission:values:first_name] and your constituents informed about your position on this issue.

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