Open space and environment

NESE pipeline and Compressor Station 206

Transco plans a 32,000-horsepower gas compressor station in Franklin as part of its Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which the Council has opposed by resolution since 2016. On September 8, 2026 the Council settled Transco's federal condemnation of a preserved-farm access road for $500,000 plus $100,000, and the same day a federal appeals court vacated NJDEP's water quality certificate for the project.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

Transco settlement approved; NJDEP must reconsider the water certificate Last moved

What happens next

NJDEP must reconsider the project's Water Quality Certification on remand; no date or comment period has been announced in the record. Residents can speak in Public Discussion at the Township Council's next meetings, November 10, November 24 and December 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Municipal Complex, 475 DeMott Lane.

The Northeast Supply Enhancement project (NESE) is a natural gas pipeline expansion by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco, a Williams company). Its New Jersey portion includes Compressor Station 206: in FERC’s words, “a new 32,000 hp compressor station consisting of two 16,000 hp natural gas-fired, turbine-driven compressor units in Somerset County, New Jersey.” The site is in Franklin, on Block 5.02. The Township Council has opposed the station since 2016. In May 2023 it urged FERC to deny any extension of the project’s permits (Res. 23-186, 8-0), in June 2025 it opposed the whole project again (Res. #25-266, 8-0), and it keeps a standing task force on it.

Where it stands.

  • Federal approval. FERC reissued Transco’s certificate on August 28, 2025. It requires the project to be completed within three years of that order.
  • The access road. Transco needed an access road and workspace across the Higgins farm, Block 5.02, Lot 26.01, whose development rights the township owns under a 2017 deed of easement. Transco went to federal court on January 2, 2026. On February 20, 2026 the court granted condemnation and immediate possession and ordered Transco to deposit $60,000 as security. Transco had offered $39,900.
  • The settlement. On September 8, 2026 the Council voted 9-0 for Res. #26-390. Transco pays $500,000 for the easements and funds a $100,000 Community Benefit Program, chosen by the township, through its foundation. Payment is due within 30 days of signing, and a consent judgment is to be filed once it is paid. Neither the signing nor the payment is in the record yet.
  • The water certificate. The same day, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated NJDEP’s November 7, 2025 Water Quality Certification for NESE and sent it back to NJDEP. Franklin was not a party. NJDEP may supplement its explanation, require more analysis, issue a new or revised certification, or reach a different result.
  • The air permit. NJDEP’s NESE page lists approval of the Compressor Station 206 air permit and certificate to operate on January 12, 2026.

What residents can do.

  • Speak in Public Discussion at a Township Council meeting (November 10, November 24 or December 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m., 475 DeMott Lane).
  • Watch NJDEP’s NESE page for notices and comment periods on the remand.
  • Read the settlement text in the September 8 minutes, and the township’s task force page.

The NESE pipeline and Compressor Station 206, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved Council opposes Compressor Station 206 and the whole NESE project (Res. #25-266)The Council voted 8-0 to oppose Compressor Station 206 "on all proposed locations in and around Franklin Township" and the NESE project "in its totality," and urged FERC not to reissue Transco's certificate.
  2. Resolved FERC reissues the NESE certificate, including Compressor Station 206FERC granted Transco's petition to reissue its certificate for the Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which includes a 32,000-horsepower compressor station in Franklin, on condition that the project be completed within three years.
  3. Resolved NJDEP approves NESE water permits and the Water Quality CertificateNJDEP's Division of Land Resource Protection approved the project's wetlands, flood hazard and waterfront development permits and a Water Quality Certificate. The Third Circuit vacated the certificate on September 8, 2026.
  4. Resolved Transco sues to condemn an access road across township-preserved farmlandTransco filed a federal condemnation action for a permanent access road and temporary workspace across the Higgins Property, Block 5.02, Lot 26.01, whose development rights the township owns. It had offered the township $37,700, then $39,900.
  5. Resolved NJDEP approves the Compressor Station 206 air permitNJDEP's Division of Air Quality approved the air pollution control preconstruction permit and certificate to operate for Compressor Station 206, according to NJDEP's NESE page. It had held a virtual public hearing on the permit on November 13, 2025.
  6. Resolved Council meets in closed session on Transco; residents ask about local limitsThe Council went into executive session on "Williams Transco" (Res. #26-036, 9-0). Three residents raised NJDEP's NESE approvals, and the Township Attorney cited "constraints due to preemption and limited municipal authority."
  7. Resolved Federal court grants Transco condemnation and possession of the access roadThe court rejected the township's objection, granted condemnation and immediate possession, and ordered Transco to deposit $60,000 as security. Transco had offered $39,900; the court said the township "articulated no specific value."
  8. Active Council approves $500,000 plus $100,000 settlement with Transco (Res. #26-390)The Council voted 9-0 to settle the condemnation case: Transco pays $500,000 for the easements on the township-preserved Higgins farm and funds a $100,000 community benefit program through its foundation. The court had ordered a $60,000 deposit; Transco had offered $39,900.
  9. Pending Third Circuit vacates NJDEP's NESE Water Quality CertificationThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit granted petitions by environmental groups, vacated NJDEP's November 2025 certification and sent it back to NJDEP. Franklin was not a party. No NJDEP action on remand has been found.

Explainers

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Council — October 13, 2026

    The Council adopted Ord. 4517-26 (cluster subdivisions) and Ord. 4520-26, the PILOT for the CWP-ASR Somerset I and II affordable-housing project at 260 Davidson Avenue, each 9-0. In Public Discussion residents spoke on the Flock license-plate cameras, the Sentinel data center in South Brunswick and the NESE project, the Davidson Avenue housing site, PILOTs, stormwater and truck traffic. Mr. Singh said he supported a full public review and a new vote on the cameras.

  • Township Council — September 8, 2026

    The Council approved a $500,000 settlement with Transco over the federal condemnation of an access easement for Compressor Station 206, on land whose development rights the Township holds, plus $100,000 for a community benefit program, 9-0. It awarded the Catalpa Park construction contract and introduced a $1,380,000 open-space ordinance for the park. Eight of 15 speakers addressed the Flock license-plate cameras.

  • Township Council — August 11, 2026

    The Public Safety Director and a Flock Safety representative presented the township's license-plate camera system, and most of the residents who spoke in Public Discussion asked about data retention, audits, cost and civil liberties, several calling for the contract to be cancelled or put to a referendum. The Council adopted the cannabis and short-term rental ordinances, introduced the cluster-subdivision ordinance 4517-26, awarded $1.8 million in resurfacing and a $1,064,962 East Millstone water main, and met in closed session on warehouse and Transco litigation.

  • Township Council — May 26, 2026

    The Council adopted the CY2026 municipal budget as amended, 9-0, with $75,455,645.64 in appropriations and $41,722,842.00 to be raised by taxation for municipal purposes. Five residents spoke, among them one thanking the Council for limiting warehouses and banning data centers. The consent agenda carried a $325,000 guiderail repair contract and final change orders on water main and resurfacing work.

  • Township Council — March 24, 2026

    After a presentation of the 29-acre Catalpa Park plan, estimated at $9.0–$9.1 million with construction management, the Council authorized bids 8-0. Its consent agenda endorsed the Planning Board's amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and a $77,725 stormwater plan shared with Montgomery, and it met in closed session on the Williams Transco litigation.

  • Township Council — January 13, 2026

    The Council ratified its settlement with Fair Share Housing Center on the Fourth Round housing plan and introduced four inclusionary zoning ordinances (MFIZ-1, -2, -4 and -5), an amendment to the Franklin Boulevard Redevelopment Plan and a water curb-connection fee ordinance, each 9-0. Three residents asked for help against the NESE project; the Council met in closed session on "Williams Transco".

  • Township Council — November 10, 2025

    With all nine members present, the Council's 9-0 consent agenda included an Axon "ALPR License and Integration" state contract of up to $37,800, the CY2024 audit and its corrective action plan, and two stormwater maintenance agreements. It introduced a Brookline Avenue parking ordinance and a pump-station easement. A resident raised the NESE project's air permit.

  • Township Council — October 28, 2025

    The Council designated 606–610 Franklin Boulevard and neighbouring lots (Block 233, Lots 1.01 and 2.01; Block 234, Lots 1, 14.01 and 16) an area in need of redevelopment with condemnation powers, 8-0 with Mr. Wright abstaining. It adopted Ord. 4483-25, which bars the routine use of fossil-fuel on-site generators, 9-0, and sent $10,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to the Franklin Food Bank ahead of an expected SNAP disruption.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Council minutes, May 9, 2023 (Res. 23-186)
  2. Township Council minutes, September 8, 2026 (Res. #26-390 and settlement agreement text)
  3. Resolution #26-390, settlement with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (September 8, 2026)
  4. U.S. District Court, D.N.J., Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. v. 1.451 Acres, No. 3:26-cv-00018, opinion of February 20, 2026
  5. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, NRDC v. NJDEP, Nos. 26-1252 and 26-1253 (September 8, 2026)
  6. FERC, Order Issuing Certificate, Docket Nos. CP17-101-007 and CP20-49-001 (August 28, 2025)
  7. Township Council minutes, June 12, 2025 (Res. #25-266 opposing Compressor Station 206 and NESE)
  8. Township Council minutes, January 13, 2026 (executive session; Public Discussion; Township Attorney on preemption)
  9. NJDEP, Northeast Supply Enhancement Project page
  10. Franklin Township, Task Force – Compressor Station 206 & NESE
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