Williams' timeline for controversial US gas pipeline in doubt, state & federal permits in limbo

Williams Companies' controversial Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) gas pipeline, is expected to be delayed due to awaiting permits at both the state and federal levels which are needed to begin construction by the end of 2025 as originally planned.

The pipeline, planned to run through the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, is awaiting federal permits and most local permits. 

So far, they have only secured a water quality certification from Pennsylvania. 

The stale-level permits necessary are understood to include:

• Land Use permits from New Jersey
• Air permits from New Jersey
• Freshwater Wetlands permits from New Jersey
• Water Quality Certification from New Jersey
• Earth Disturbance permits from Pennsylvania
• Water Encroachment/Crossing permits from Pennsylvania
• Water Quality Certification from New York

A source with the New York State governor's office has suggested that "he would be surprised" if construction started by the end of 2025, as state and local authorities may not complete permit reviews in time.

New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection corroborated these comments stating that the review timeframe for most permits was typically 120 days, with the exception of water quality certification which takes around one year. Furthermore, a Freshwater Wetlands permit does not have a statutory deadline.

Williams Companies stated that receiving Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) permits before 29 August 2025 would allow the project to begin construction by late 2025. This statement, however, does not mention state level permits, most of which are still pending.

The NESE project is being developed by Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company LLC (Transco), an SPV under Williams Companies.

Transco, last month [May 2025] sent in a Petition for Expedited Reissuance of Certificate Authority from the FERC. 

The following month [6 June 2025], the FERC issued an information request to Transco, requiring updates to its 2017 application to be submitted no later than 10 June 2025.

Transco has complied with this request and submitted additional information to the FERC, keeping with the deadline. 

However, FERC declined to comment on Inspiratia's inquiries regarding Transco's request for expedited approval.

Transco's filing to the FERC contains documentation of water quality certification issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on 31 May 2018.

In May 2020, New Jersey and New York environmental regulators rejected water quality permits which put the project on hold. 

Transco resubmitted applications for water quality permits with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [30 May 2025]. 

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has also received land and air use permit applications from Transco. 

On Friday [13th June 2025], Transco submitted new applications for earth disturbance and water encroachment/crossing to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, due to old permits expiring. 

Williams started this permitting process in 2017 with their first application to the FERC.

In May 2019, Transco received the FERC Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, authorising construction.

This certification expired in 2023 after the company failed to secure state level permits, leading Transo to resubmit their FERC application in May 2025.

Williams Companies is also considering construction of the Constitution pipeline, another natural gas pipeline in the region.

A spokesperson from Williams Companies added; "The NESE and Constitution projects are essential to address persistent natural gas supply constraints in the Northeast." 

If permitted, this project is expected to benefit from the Trump administration's support of oil and gas projects. 

Market rumors suggest that New York's alleged support of NESE is rumored to be connected in a bilateral negotiation to allow construction on Equinor's Empire Wind project.

Empire Wind, an 810MW offshore wind farm off the coast of New York, had a work border ban implemented on 16 April 2025.

Last month [20 May 2025], the Trump administration lifted this ban to allow construction to resume.

Both the Trump administration and Kathy Hochul's office denied any such agreement took place.

As of 29 May 2025, Transco estimates the overall cost for the pipeline to be $926.5 million. If constructed, it would add 400,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas capacity, supplying up to 2.3 million homes.

Should Transco's construction timeline be met, the pipeline is projected to be operational in the end of 2027.