New Jersey has issued the final state permit required for a major natural gas infrastructure expansion in Central Jersey. On Monday, January 12, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approved an air quality permit for Williams Transco, clearing the path for construction of a new compressor station connected to its Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, known as NESE.
- The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approved an air permit on Monday for Compressor Station 206, a 32,000-horsepower natural gas facility in Somerset County.
- The permit advances Williams Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, a multi-state pipeline expansion largely intended to serve New York, particularly Long Island.
- Environmental organizations oppose the project and are pursuing legal action, citing air pollution, health risks, greenhouse gas emissions, and prior state findings.
Air Permit Authorizes Construction of Compressor Station 206
The approved air permit applies to Compressor Station 206, a 32,000-horsepower natural gas-fired compressor station planned for Route 518 in Franklin Township. The site is identified as Block 5.02, Lot 25, Somerset County, New Jersey 08853-4171, and is located near the Trap Rock Quarry.
The facility will include two natural gas-fired simple-cycle turbines. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the permit ensures that both turbines comply with all applicable state air quality regulations. Larry Hajna, a spokesperson for the agency, said Williams Transco’s application met all state requirements. With the permit issued, the company has authorization to proceed with the construction of the compressor station.
Northeast Supply Enhancement Project Expands Pipeline Network
Compressor Station 206 is a central component of the broader Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, a large-scale natural gas expansion that spans New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The project includes approximately 3.4 to 3.5 miles of new pipeline between Old Bridge and Sayreville in New Jersey, as well as a 23-mile pipeline installed beneath the Raritan Bay and New York Harbor to connect infrastructure in New Jersey and New York. The NESE project also includes a new compressor station and about 10 miles of pipeline in Pennsylvania.
Williams Transco has stated that the project is intended to ensure reliability during periods of peak natural gas demand in New York, with a particular focus on Long Island.
Environmental Groups Raise Concerns
Environmental organizations argue that the compressor station will negatively affect air quality in Somerset County and the surrounding areas. They say emissions will result from turbine combustion, blowdowns, and methane leaks associated with pipeline infrastructure.
The pollutants identified include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds. Additional air toxics linked to the project include benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, acrolein, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide.
Opponents have also raised safety concerns, stating that residential communities near the compressor station could face increased risks from gas leaks and potential explosions, which they say could endanger both human life and the surrounding environment.
Public Hearing, Legal Challenges, and Ongoing Opposition
Before approving the permit, the Department of Environmental Protection held one public hearing on November 13. During the hearing, hundreds of residents and members of the public spoke to express concerns about air quality, public health, environmental damage, and safety.
The New Jersey Sierra Club submitted technical comments opposing the air permit on November 24. The organization is also involved in a lawsuit against Williams Transco concerning water permits, working in coalition with other state energy and environmental advocacy groups.
Environmental advocates say the permit approval conflicts with a 2020 determination by the Department of Environmental Protection that previously found the NESE project did not meet New Jersey’s environmental standards.
Permit Follows Recent Regulatory Reversal
The air permit approval follows a series of late-2025 authorizations from federal agencies and regulators in both New Jersey and New York. The approvals are a reversal for the NESE project, which had faced years of denials and appeared stalled before the recent decisions.
Opponents say the decision undermines New Jersey’s stated commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy. They argue that constructing new natural gas infrastructure locks the state into decades of fossil fuel dependence at a time when renewable alternatives should be prioritized.
Environmental organizations argue that New Jersey does not receive an additional energy supply from the project, but instead bears the pollution, land disruption, and climate impacts. They continue to urge New York to pursue alternative energy solutions for Long Island that do not damage wetlands, dredge potentially toxic materials from the Hudson and Raritan Bays, or release large amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Legal opposition to the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project remains active as environmental organizations continue to challenge the approvals through the courts.
