Princeton council adopts resolution opposing Williams Transco NESE project after environmental concerns raised

Princeton’s mayor and council on Nov. 10 approved Resolution 25-3-74 opposing Williams Transco’s Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project after local environmental advocates urged the council to act and highlighted alleged deficiencies in the project’s DEP filings.

A local commenter (identified as Alexi in the meeting) asked the council to oppose the pipeline and to coordinate with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Kip Cherry, speaking for the Sierra Club, told council members he had provided a map and urged residents and the municipality to focus on air-quality and emissions issues. Cherry listed pollutants of concern — including benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, silene and sulfur dioxide — and said the Sierra Club is pressing the DEP to require a complete application that accounts for emissions during startup, shutdown and maintenance "blowdowns." He said the group will present at the DEP hearing scheduled for Nov. 13 and that written comments are accepted through Nov. 24.

"We're talking about benzene. We're talking about formaldehyde, toluene, silene, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and dioxide, all of which have major negative impacts on human health," Cherry said, urging the council to include those concerns in its opposition.

Councilmembers moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by voice vote. Advocates said they will continue to engage at the DEP hearing and submit written comments before the Nov. 24 deadline.

Next steps: Sierra Club representatives and other local advocates plan to speak at the DEP hearing on Nov. 13; the council’s resolution is a municipal expression of opposition that advocates can cite in regulatory proceedings.