PennEast Update & Kurt Knaus Statement

Developers of PennEast Pipeline between northeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey today announced that they are ending development of the 116-mile project. The decision to pull the plug comes just three months after the project team secured a key win before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The project has not been able to obtain the necessary state permits for development, even though it had secured approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a virtual public hearing on two permit applications for construction of Phase 1 of PennEast in northeastern Pennsylvania in January. That portion of the project comprised a 68-mile stretch of 36-inch diameter pipe in Carbon, Luzerne, Monroe and Northampton counties. Phase 2 was planned for New Jersey.

Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance. spokesman, Kurt Knaus, stated:

“This is a disappointing decision that highlights the need for a more streamlined and reasonable regulatory approach to pipeline development. Pennsylvania now will lose its share of what was expected to be $1.2 billion in investments. Ending this project does nothing to change the equation. Demand for clean-burning natural gas remains high. The pipeline constraints that currently limit market access will only grow worse without projects like PennEast, which was designed to meet the clear public need by businesses and consumers for reliable, affordable energy.”

***For more than six years, the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance has advocated for the safe, responsible development of critical infrastructure. For more information:

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