Energy and transportation in focus
NESE clears major state approval
The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline has secured approval from the New Jersey Tidelands Resource Council, clearing one of the project’s final regulatory hurdles. The proposed extension would deliver additional natural gas supplies to New York City and Long Island, strengthening regional energy reliability during peak winter demand.
Source: TINN– https://tristateinfrastructurenews.com/nese-pipeline-approved-by-tidelands-resource-council/
Drought Warning Continues
Despite widespread rain last week most of the state continues to experience moderate drought conditions and a drought warning remains in effect. While New Jersey’s drinking water supplies have improved substantially since winter, the Department of Environmental Protection strongly advises residents use water wisely and practice water conservation.
Source: njspotlightnews.com: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/05/all-types-of-problems-ahead-if-nj-rainfall-scarce-climatolog…
PJM report calls for market reforms to meet rising energy demand
PJM Interconnection’s new report, Powering Reliability Through Market Design, says the region’s wholesale electricity market may need significant changes. The landscape around PJM’s capacity market, known as the Reliability Pricing Model, has shifted as electricity demand from data centers grows faster than new generation can be built to meet it. The report is intended to serve as the foundation for discussions with stakeholders as PJM works toward permanent market reforms.
Source: ROI-NJ– https://www.roi-nj.com/2026/05/08/industry/energy-utilities/pjms-report-rethinks-future-of-wholesale…
What New Jersey can learn from Moss Landing
A year after the massive battery fire at California’s Moss Landing Battery Energy Storage Facility, the environmental and public health impacts are still unfolding. The blaze damaged roughly 50,000 lithium-ion battery modules, with contamination later detected in nearby wetlands. As New Jersey expands large-scale battery storage through the Garden State Energy Storage Program, the incident offers a clear reminder that planning for emergency response, environmental safeguards and community transparency must grow alongside new energy infrastructure.
Source: TINN – https://tristateinfrastructurenews.com/moss-landing-californias-toxic-legacy-and-what-new-jersey-must-learn/
NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fares by $45
Fans heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at MetLife Stadium will pay a little less to get there. NJ Transit announced that round-trip rail fares will drop from $150 to $105, a $45 reduction made possible through sponsor support and other non-taxpayer funding. Tickets are expected to go on sale May 13, with officials saying prices could fall further if additional private funding is secured.
Source: BINJE– https://binje.com/world-cup-soccer/njtransit-fare-to-world-cup-matches-has-been-dropped-45/
Push to repeal century-old law tied to rising infrastructure costs
A coalition of lawmakers, labor groups, and policy advocates are making a push to overturn a century-old New Jersey law they argue is driving up the cost of major infrastructure projects. The law, known as the Scaffold Law, requires contractors to take full liability for worker falls on construction sites, regardless of fault, and supporters of reform say it inflates insurance costs and adds hundreds of millions of dollars to projects like rail tunnels, transit upgrades, and other large-scale builds. Opponents of changing the statute argue it is a critical worker safety protection, setting up a high-stakes debate over how the state should balance construction costs with jobsite protections as New Jersey faces a growing pipeline of expensive infrastructure needs. Source: nj.com– https://www.nj.com/news/2026/05/inside-the-fight-to-undo-a-centuryold-law-blamed-for-soaring-infrastructure-costs.html
