NY and NJ Grant Key Permits for Controversial Williams Pipeline

New York and New Jersey granted crucial permits for a long-stalled Williams Cos. pipeline project that would bring more natural gas to the New York City area from Pennsylvania.

Environmental regulators in both states approved certifications under the federal Clean Water Act for the company’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project. It would expand an existing system delivering gas from Pennsylvania shale fields to Long Island and New York City, adding enough capacity to serve about 2.3 million homes.

The permits mark a stark turnaround for the project, which Williams has pursued for almost eight years. After New York denied it a ...