PennEast land use permit approved for compressor station

The 21 September development follows the findings of three different government regulators that determined the project is safe for the environment. Final federal approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is expected in the coming weeks.

The Supervisors unanimously approved the final land development plan with expected conditions, including a final certification from FERC, and is the last approval in the local process.

“This approval is another step forward for PennEast and part of a thorough, multi year process involving nearly two dozen regulatory agencies,” said Pat Kornick, Project Spokesperson. “PennEast’s design incorporates one compression station for the entire 120 mile route, which will reduce overall environmental impact and employ state-of-the-art technology to keep emissions below Clean Air Act significance levels. We appreciate the time and consideration given to the application by Kidder Township officials, and view this step as the latest evidence of continued progress toward approval, construction and operation.”

The compressor site itself is an approximately 74 acre, undeveloped site near Interstate 80 and will include three natural gas turbine-driven units.

FERC strictly regulates noise levels at compressor stations to 55 dBA, and found in its April Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that PennEast would not result in significant air or noise impacts. As a result of advanced sound-proofing technology, the exterior of PennEast’s compressor station will not exceed 49 dBA, or about 1 dBA higher than the existing sound environment.

PennEast is awaiting final approval from FERC after the favourable Final EIS, the culmination of nearly three years of regulatory and environmental review. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded a key water permit in February.

The need to access low cost, clean and reliable energy has been championed by dozens of business and labour organisations across two states, and is reflected in the market trading of natural gas. Market area pricing for natural gas in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey was recently more than double that of the Marcellus production areas of Pennsylvania – which PennEast would access – in turn, lowering costs for families and businesses across the region.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/26092017/penneast-land-use-permit-approved-for-compressor-station/