As you are aware I have been engaged over the years with the issues surrounding the PennEast pipeline and the company’s efforts to condemn and destroy farmland easements, for which county taxpayers had paid millions of dollars to preserve through the open space fund, and to take other private property, through eminent domain.
Back in September the Board was advised that the pipeline company had given up on its plans to condemn and destroy farmland easements in Hunterdon County, for which county taxpayers had paid millions of dollars to preserve through the open space fund, and to take other private property, through eminent domain. That was welcome news.
However, some were suspicious that the move was some type of nefarious tactic by the company and that they would be back trying to take land again.
So, I am very pleased to report that the county has received a copy of a communication, dated November 30, 2021, from PennEast to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) which governs the pipeline approval process at the federal level, stating ‘PennEast has ceased all further development of the Project.’
You can read the PennEast letter by clicking here.
This leaves no question that the efforts to take land in our county for the pipeline project is now officially dead.
All those involved in standing up for property owners rights and opposing the abuse of eminent domain, including this Board, should be congratulated.