TUNKHANNOCK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Citizens, community, labor and business leaders from across Pennsylvania are expressing support for Williams Partners’ (NYSE: WPZ) Atlantic Sunrise expansion – a nearly $3 billion energy infrastructure investment in the continued growth and development of the state’s economy and thousands of jobs for workers.

“Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise project addresses this critical need, allowing us to capitalize on this once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry President Gene Barr. “While the components are there for sustainable economic growth and prosperity, the lack of energy infrastructure to move this clean-burning, low-cost commodity to markets hinders immediate job growth and economic opportunity in our state. The time to build this project is now.”

After receiving a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in February 2017, Atlantic Sunrise can begin delivering benefits to Pennsylvania once the last remaining state permits necessary to begin construction are secured. Construction on the Central Penn Line (the greenfield portion of the project) is targeted to begin in the 3rd Quarter of 2017, which would allow the full project capacity to be placed into service in mid-2018.

“Pennsylvania is poised, perhaps unlike at any other time in recent memory, to benefit in every way — new jobs, better wages, reduced energy costs, increased tax revenue and economic prosperity for generations to come,” said Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council President Jeff Logan. “After nearly three years of intense regulatory scrutiny, it is time for our own state government to complete its review of this important infrastructure project so that Pennsylvanians can immediately benefit from the economic growth and jobs it promises to deliver. This includes the chemical industry which supports more than 90,000 direct and related jobs in the Commonwealth.”

In 2015 Pennsylvania State University researchers forecast the Atlantic Sunrise project to directly and indirectly support approximately 8,000 jobs in the 10 Pennsylvania counties during the project’s construction phase, resulting in an estimated $1.6 billion economic impact in the project area.

“Growth in the energy industry can create steady, reliable careers for millions of men and women in our country and in this state,” said Dave Horn, LECET Representative, Mid-Atlantic LIUNA. “More specifically, pipeline work is a life line for good union jobs with family-supporting pay resulting in millions of dollars being reinvested back into the community and local businesses. We work on these projects; we have seen first-hand the economic benefits.”

Recently, a petition signed by more than 3,000 supporters was delivered to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf requesting swift state regulatory approval of the project. In addition, more than 1,200 people and organizations submitted supportive comments to FERC during the public comment period.

About Williams

Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale infrastructure connecting U.S. natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand for cleaner fuel and feedstocks. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ). Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap master limited partnership with operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins, Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. www.williams.com

About Williams Partners

Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap natural gas infrastructure master limited partnership with a strong growth outlook and major positions in key U.S. supply basins. Williams Partners has operations across the natural gas value chain from gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids to petchem production of ethylene, propylene and other olefins. Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30 percent of U.S. natural gas. Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams (NYSE:WMB), a premier provider of large-scale U.S. natural gas infrastructure, owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners.

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