Tulsa-based Williams Partners L.P. announced it has put into service Phase 2 of its Garden State Expansion Project, a project fought by environmentalists in New Jersey in the past two years.
The expansion of the Transco pipeline system will deliver 180,000 dekatherms a day of more natural gas capacity to New Jersey Natural Gas. But in 2016, protesters tried to block the expansion. And in 2017, two New Jersey towns filed a federal lawsuit trying to overturn a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that approved the $116 million project.
The second phase became operational this week after Phase one was put into service last fall.
“The Garden State project highlights our continued execution on projects designed to enhance existing infrastructure, ensuring a reliable supply of clean energy to meet our customers’ natural gas needs,” said Alan Armstrong, chief executive officer of Williams Partners’ general partner.
The project consisted of the installation of a new compressor and regulating station in Burlington County, N.J.
New Jersey Natural Gas provides service to more than half a million customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties.
Transco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams Partners L.P. It delivers natural gas to customers through am ore than 10,200 mile-pipeline network. Bu the main line extends nearly 1,800 miles from South Texas to New York City.