A major groundbreaking ceremony has been held in Brooklyn by Williams Cos. of Tulsa for the start of construction on its Northeast Supply Enhancement project.
Officials gathered at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn where brief remarks were made by Williams leadership and elected officials. They spoke after a ceremonial pipe signing highlighting the start of onsite construction. (Watch a replay of the event here.)
“Energy security is national security, and energy affordability drives American prosperity,” said Chad Zamarin, President and CEO of Williams. “NESE delivers reliable American energy to New York’s grid at a critical time. By adding new capacity to bring domestically produced natural gas to the grid, we’re providing dependable energy for countless homes and businesses at the time they need it most.”
NESE is an expansion of Williams’ existing Transco pipeline system across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York that will add 400,000 dekatherms per day of capacity — enough energy to serve the equivalent of 2.3 million homes — to help meet growing energy demand in the Northeast.
Business Wire reported that with federal and state construction permits in hand, NESE remains on track to be in service by fourth quarter 2027, delivering reliable, affordable natural gas during peak demand periods for homes, businesses and critical infrastructure across the region.
“Breaking ground on the NESE pipeline marks a massive milestone for millions of New Yorkers seeking access to reliable, affordable natural gas. Delivering natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York City and Long Island will lower costs while helping to meet the growing energy demand of this region,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “I, like so many New Yorkers, am extremely grateful for President Trump’s leadership, along with his National Energy Dominance Council, for getting the permits necessary to allow this project to advance. We celebrate this incredible accomplishment and will continue pursuing every way possible to make life more affordable for all Americans.”
“While China has outpaced American electricity production, past administrations put our energy and national security at risk by burying America’s Balance Sheet under red tape,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Under President Donald J. Trump, we’re reversing course with projects like the NESE pipeline to unleash American Energy Dominance, lower costs for American consumers, and restore a strong, reliable grid. This project alone is expected to lower electricity bills by $6 billion over the next 15 years and stimulate up to $1.8 billion in economic development. That’s a huge win for American families!”
“When government, labor, and industry pull in the same direction, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish, and NESE is a $1 billion direct investment in the American worker,” added Zamarin at Williams Companies.
Up next on the priority list: getting Constitution Pipeline approved to allow many New England residents to tap into the same abundant resources, especially during brutally cold winter months. This project has been blocked by Democrats in Albany, restricting many Americans from accessing the jobs, resources, and lower energy costs that will come with this vital project.
Meeting Energy Demand Through Targeted Infrastructure
NESE strengthens energy affordability, reliability and safety for the Northeast by expanding the existing Transco system to deliver dependable natural gas when it’s needed most — especially during peak winter demand. The added capacity improves grid stability and supply security across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, helping energy providers keep homes heated, businesses operating and critical infrastructure running as demand continues to grow. Independent analysis also indicates the project would help moderate electricity costs over time by improving fuel availability and system flexibility.
Construction and operation will support thousands of jobs and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into local and regional economies, providing long-term economic value through a reliable energy supply. Williams designs, builds, and operates pipelines to the highest safety standards, using advanced monitoring, inspection and automation technologies. NESE also advances environmental goals by reducing emissions and replacing higher-carbon fuels; the project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 13,000 tons and will use modern materials and electric motor-driven compressors to reduce emissions and noise compared to older infrastructure.