Williams to Boost Gas Supplies to Transco System, Data Centers

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Written by Will Ploch, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Strong second-quarter results gave executives at Williams confidence they could expand the company's biggest pipeline system and boost its role in the data-center market over the coming year.

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Taking Transco to the Next Level

Despite an overall weakening of natural gas prices, Williams Companies reported solid growth in second-quarter 2026, fueled by higher natural gas transmission and storage revenues, as well as increased gathering volumes. Executives expressed confidence they could expand the company's biggest pipeline system and boost its role in the data-center market in the near term. Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than $4.6 billion worth of active and proposed projects across the U.S. from Williams, about 70% of which is attributed to grassroot developments.

Williams is playing a major role in providing natural gas-fired power generation to the U.S. East Coast through two sprawling, multi-phase expansions to its Transcontinental (Transco) Gas Pipeline system: the Southeast Supply Enhancement (SESE), which will expand service across Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE), which will expand service across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, more than $900 million worth of projects related to NESE or SESE are nearing or under construction, with completions currently set for the second half of 2027. Larry Larsen, the chief operating officer of Williams, said in this week's quarterly earnings-related conference call that "some early in-service" for SESE could begin in early 2027, with full in-service as early as the third quarter.

Along with nine projects to add or modify compressor stations, Williams is adding a 30.8-mile pipeline segment in central Virginia and a 24.6-mile segment in western North Carolina, both of which will carry up to 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to Transco's mainline. Industrial Info Resources offers more information on these projects in its Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Pipeline Project Database, where readers can find details--including construction schedules, investment values and necessary equipment--in project reports on the Virginia and North Carolina segments.

As part of the NESE, Williams is adding the 23.5-mile Raritan Bay Loop and the 3.5-mile Madison Loop in northern New Jersey. Larsen said the "real meat" of NESE will kick off "at the end of this year as we go into some of the compression, and then the offshore build will be mostly in 2027." Readers can consult detailed reports on the Raritan Bay and Madison loops.

"We've navigated some rainier weather on the East Coast that's definitely caused some challenges for the teams as they start to build through the pipeline construction," Larsen said. "They've done it really well and don't see any impacts at this point."

By the Numbers

• More than $4.6 billion: Total investment value for active and proposed projects across the U.S. from Williams
• Up to 1.6 billion cubic feet per day: Capacity on Williams' SESE and NESE expansions to its Transcontinental Gas Pipeline system
• More than $900 million: Total investment value for Williams' SESE and NESE projects nearing or under construction

'Socratic' Approach

Executives highlighted the first phase of the Socrates South Power Plant in New Albany, Ohio, which achieved in-service status less than 18 months since it was commercialized. The gas-fired power plant, which is designed to provide 286.5 megawatts (MW) to Facebook parent Meta Platforms Incorporated's Prometheus South Data Center, is part of a growing "behind the meter" trend, in which data-center developers build their own power-generation facilities to offset any effects on the power grid.

Chad Zamarin, the chief executive officer of Williams said in this week's quarterly earnings-related conference call that the success of Socrates' first phase means Williams is "well-positioned to advance the commercialization and scaling of future power-innovation projects." Readers can learn more from a detailed project report and a profile of Meta's Prometheus South plant, as well as Industrial Info's June 10, 2026, article - Behind-the-Meter Power Generation Increasingly Prevalent at U.S. Data Centers.

A second phase for Socrates, positioned north of the existing development, started site preparation last year and is designed to supply another 200 MW to the data center. Readers can learn more from a detailed project report.

"Phase 2 of Socrates progressing well," said John Porter, the chief financial officer of Williams, in the earnings call. "We're assuming that it comes online on time."

Williams reported net income of $827 million for second-quarter 2026, a 51% increase from the same period last year, while total revenues stood at $3.05 billion, a 9.8% increase.

The Industrial Info Resources GMI Project and Plant databases offer a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and a full list of related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources also offers a full list of reports for active and proposed projects across the U.S. from Williams.

Key Takeaways

• Weaker natural gas prices failed to stop Williams' growth in the second quarter of 2026.
• Several NESE or SESE projects are set to be completed in the second half of 2027.
• The first phase of a major Williams project to supply a Meta data center recently achieved in-service status.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news, and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing, and energy-related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified, and verified plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).