GAIN Statement on FERC PennEast Ruling
In a key decision for the PennEast Pipeline today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ruled in favor of the companies developing the $1 billion natural gas pipeline, maintaining their ability to use federal eminent domain to gain access to properties controlled by the state. This comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in September that the pipeline could not use federal eminent domain to condemn land controlled by the state of New Jersey. FERC’s decision lends the project significant support as it prepares to take its case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
If completed, the pipeline will extend 120 miles to carry 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Marcellus Shale Formation in Pennsylvania to about 5 million homes across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Below is a statement that can be attributed to me, Craig Stevens, spokesman for the GAIN Coalition:“GAIN applauds FERC’s ruling on the PennEast Pipeline. FERC’s support for this project is essential as PennEast continues to face challenges, including a forthcoming petition before the Supreme Court. Our nation’s energy infrastructure is the backbone of the American economy, and requires significant investment, regulatory certainty, and a straightforward permitting process. We welcome FERC’s measured, thoughtful application of the law and hope that construction and operation of this project will ultimately be allowed to move forward.”
