In Major Win for Energy Sector, SCOTUS Rules in Favor of PennEast Pipeline

In a 5-4 split, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the PennEast pipeline can proceed with seizing New Jersey-owned land the 116-mile project will cross. In arguments, attorneys representing the consortium of natural gas companies building the line said they would be “at the mercy of New Jersey” if they lost since there’s no way to re-route the path without the state’s involvement. Aside from opposing the pipeline taking its land, New Jersey has been hostile to the entire project.

“This is a landmark victory for energy infrastructure development – one that should deter local critics from trying to hijack projects of national importance,” said Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance spokesman Kurt Knaus...

PennEast aims to move more than 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania to Mercer County, N.J. In addition to crossing 40 state-owned parcels, the pipeline will cross the Delaware River, which inflamed opposition from environmental activists...MORE