Somerset County Freeholders voted on April 25, 2017, to join the opposition to the construction of a Williams Transco's Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which includes a proposed compressor station in Franklin Township.
SOMERVILLE - The Somerset County Freeholders voted Tuesday night to join the opposition to the construction of a Williams Transco's Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which includes a proposed compressor station in Franklin Township.
The freeholders join others, including local and state leaders, who are opposing the project.
Transco filed an application in March with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking to construct its Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, enabling it to provide more natural gas from a Pennsylvania compressor station to its offshore Rockaway Transfer Point in New York State.
Part of the project includes construction of a 32,000 horsepower gas compressor station on a 52 acres of land next to the Trap Rock Quarry in Franklin Township. It would be near homes, businesses and preserved open space, it was previously reported.
"By intervening in Transco's application we are serving the public's best interests," said Freeholder Brian D. Levine, a former Franklin Township mayor. "This will give us a seat at the table so that we can keep abreast of the proceedings."
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Transco officials hope to have the project online by the end of 2019, pending regulatory approvals.
State Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-16th) has also voiced his opposition to the project. Freeholders in Middlesex County this week also passed a resolution against the project.
"The people of Middlesex and Somerset counties don't want this project," Senator Bateman said. "It could have a negative effect on property values, and it could be invasive on our communities. Residents are worried it might even be dangerous."
"Our first responsibility is for the health and safety of Somerset County residents, and quite frankly, we are not convinced the need for this facility outweighs those concerns, especially since it would be located in proximity to both residential and commercial buildings, as well as preserved open space," said Freeholder Mark Caliguire, open space liaison. "We are not convinced that Transco can mitigate the substantial adverse environmental and societal impacts that the compressor station could create."