Proposed pipelines in NYC, Upstate NY would force families to pay billions more on their energy bills, expose everyday people to health risks, and threaten ecosystems throughout the state
On Sept. 8, New York State Senator Pete Harckham, who chairs the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, became the latest lawmaker to oppose Governor Hochul’s effort to revive two major pipelines at the Trump administration’s direction:
“The construction of these two gas pipelines simply pulls New York away from focusing on its transition to renewable energy sources and away from a reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable energy is cleaner and healthier than fossil fuels, and less expensive as well, which will save residents millions of dollars in the long run.”
After meeting with President Trump this Spring, Governor Hochul has reportedly agreed to fast-track two long-dead pipeline proposals that her own state agency repeatedly denied: the Williams NESE pipeline, which would run through the New York Harbor and into Far Rockaway; and the Constitution pipeline, which would run across 125 miles of the Southern Tier and into the Albany area.
The decision is sparking serious pushback from a growing list of national and state lawmakers across both parties – including many of her own allies – who are urging her to reject Trump’s pipelines. Earlier this month, Democratic Members of Congress Jerrold Nadler, Hakeem Jeffries, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Nydia Velazquez signed a letter to Governor Hochul raising serious environmental concerns with the proposed NESE pipeline and urging her to extend the public comment period. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island similarly denounced the reported deal last week, calling it “extortion.”
Other New York State elected officials are also speaking out. On Thursday, State Senators Liz Krueger and Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Anna Kelles rallied with advocates against the Governor’s plan and urged her to reject the Trump administration’s pressure. In recent weeks, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado has repeatedly urged Hochul to reject these pipelines, while Zohran Mamdani and Republican Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella both announced their public opposition to the NESE pipeline too.
Background
Neither the NESE or Constitution applications have been amended since they were repeatedly denied by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which means they both still pose the exact same environmental threats to New York. The Constitution pipeline would threaten more than 250 waterways throughout Upstate New York, endangering sensitive habitats and wildlife populations that depend on healthy ecosystems, while the Williams NESE pipeline would stir up toxic contaminants in the New York Harbor that harm critical fisheries and other wildlife habitats.
These pipelines would also force regular New Yorkers to pay billions to expand fossil fuel infrastructure that is increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain. The Williams NESE pipeline alone will cost more than $1.3 billion, forcing ratepayers to pay $200 million every year for more than a decade on construction. While energy companies promise it will eventually decrease costs, National Grid estimates its New York City and Long Island customers would see a 3.5% increase in costs to pay for construction – adding to repeated rate hikes already making energy unaffordable for most New Yorkers. In addition to direct construction costs, the pipelines would also jeopardize hundreds of millions in local economic activity, tourism, fishing and other small businesses that rely on healthy local ecosystems.
