Village Joins Growing List of NYS Elected Leaders Urging Governor Hochul to Block Climate-Heating Fossil Fuel Projects
The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson unanimously voted to reject two controversial pipeline proposals–Project Maple, Enbridge’s proposed expansion of the Algonquin fracked gas pipeline, and the previously defeated Williams Constitution pipeline. The resolution comes after a recent meeting between Governor Hochul and Donald Trump in the White House around the permitting of the Williams Constitution pipeline and other potential fossil fuel infrastructure.
In opposing both ‘Project Maple’ and the Williams Constitution pipeline, the village’s Mayor and Board recognized Governor Hochul’s unique ability to stop the fossil fuel proposals. The resolution passed on Tuesday specifically calls on the Governor to block the climate-heating fracked gas pipeline projects, citing dangers these proposals present to New Yorkers’ air, water and climate. The projects also would lead to significant costs to New York rate-payers, who will ultimately be footing the bill from increased pipeline construction and an increased flow of gas coming through New York State.
“We’ve fought and defeated fossil fuel projects like the Danskammer power plant and Williams Constitution pipeline before, and we’ll fight and defeat them again. Like many of my friends and neighbors in Hastings, I’m horrified by the recent actions of Trump/Musk including their empowering the fossil fuel industry at the expense of our communities and our planet,” said Iris Hiskey Arno, Hastings-on-Hudson resident and Co-chair of the Environment Committee of NYCD16/15 Indivisible. “I’m proud to live in a village that takes a strong stand against threats to our water, air and climate, and urges our Governor to do the same.”
With passage of the resolution, Hastings becomes the second municipality to formally oppose Project Maple and the first to oppose Williams Constitution Pipeline since the proposal’s resurfacing from Friday’s recent meeting between Trump and Governor Hochul at the White House. Prior to the Peekskill and Hastings resolutions, last year 70 state and local elected officials also came out against Project Maple, and demanded similar action from Governor Hochul.
“Building out pipelines will cost us all more in our energy bills and ruin our climate which Donald Trump is hell-bent on doing,” said Rachel Rivera, Sandy Survivor and Organizer at New York Communities for Change. “We need Governor Hochul to step up by stopping all new fossil fuel projects, period. As someone who both lost a home to climate change and who worries about paying my bills and supporting my family, I am grateful to Hastings for saying no to both Project Maple and the Williams Constitution Pipeline.”
“We don’t need more toxic, climate-damaging pipeline expansion especially in the Hudson River towns. Congratulations to sister municipality Hastings-on-Hudson for standing up against Project Maple. Governor Hochul knows projects like Maple and Williams Constitution pipeline are industry driven, and New York energy consumers want safe, clean, and affordable energy, not the stranded assets of methane gas pipeline projects,” said United for Clean Energy co-organizer Tina Volz-Bongar.
“We applaud the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson for passing a resolution opposing fracked gas pipelines and infrastructure expansions, including Enbridge’s Project Maple and the Constitution Pipeline. New York must stand firm in its rejection of fossil fuel projects,” said Susan Van Dolsen, co-founder of Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE). “We cannot falter in the commitment to renewable energy and Governor Hochul must not cave to Trump’s pro-fossil fuel rhetoric.”
“The Maple and Constitution pipelines would be disastrous for New Yorkers — polluting our air and water while putting hundreds of communities at risk,” said Melissa Hoffmann, Hudson Valley Organizer at Food & Water Watch. “With the White House rolling back climate protections by the day, it’s unthinkable that Governor Hochul would even consider approving these projects. She should take notes from Hastings-on-Hudson’s town leadership, who are showing more backbone than we’ve seen from Albany in far too long.”
