{"id":3260,"date":"2025-10-13T07:56:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T11:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/?p=3260"},"modified":"2025-10-13T07:56:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T11:56:40","slug":"new-yorks-about-face-on-gas-pipelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/new-yorks-about-face-on-gas-pipelines\/","title":{"rendered":"New York\u2019s About Face on Gas Pipelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>New York State has consistently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lohud.com\/story\/news\/local\/new-york\/2019\/09\/06\/cuomo-constitution-pipeline-any-way-we-can-challenge-it-we-will\/2231330001\/\">blocked<\/a> the construction of new pipelines to allow for the transportation of gas. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/n-y-rejects-1b-pipeline-over-climate-water-concerns\/\">rejected<\/a> new gas pipeline construction on the grounds that it would harm water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rejection was also driven by a recognition that construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure is at odds with the state\u2019s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (known as the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/climate.ny.gov\/\">Climate Law<\/a>\u201d). It is the Climate Law that requires that 70% of the state&#8217;s electricity come from renewable energy by 2030 and that New York effectively eliminates greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After all, how could the state reconcile expanding reliance on fossil fuels while at the same time seeking to eliminate its use in generating power? It could not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rationale for acting to slash the emission of greenhouse gases is backed up by the world\u2019s experts and climate science. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Earth&#8217;s temperature has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/climate-change-global-temperature\">increased<\/a> by about 2.3\u00b0F (1.1\u00b0C) and 2024 was the warmest year on record, surpassing the previous records set in 2016 and 2023.\u00a0 The decade from 2015 to 2024 was the warmest recorded decade.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The rate of global warming has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/key-findings#:~:text=Download%20PDF-,Temperature%20Rise,was%20the%20warmest%20recorded%20decade\">faster<\/a> since 1970 than at any other time in the last 2,000 years.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The warming is triggered by greenhouse gases emitted by the burning of oil, gas, and coal, causing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>) levels to reach a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide\">record<\/a> \u2013 now more than 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The increased heat has impacted the world. The global average sea level has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/climate-change-global-sea-level\">risen<\/a> 8-9 inches since 1880.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As one of the world\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/pgcgroup.com\/blog\/us-states-gdp-compared-to-countries\">biggest<\/a> economies, New York\u2019s actions not only impact the nation, but can affect global climate policies, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as its policies stayed in place, that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reportedly as a result of <a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/factbase\/trump\/transcript\/donald-trump-remarks-executive-orders-white-house-february-13-2025\/\">pressure<\/a> from the Trump Administration, New York is changing course and on the verge of <em>allowing<\/em> construction of pipelines it had previously <em>banned<\/em> as environmental threats a few years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pressure started with an attack by the Trump Administration on a nearly completed wind farm off of Eastern Long Island. In April the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/chrissmith.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/trump_admin_dept_of_interior_empire_wind_memo_signed_by_secretary_burgum_april_16_2025.pdf\">ordered<\/a> that the project be halted. The Secretary later elaborated, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecretaryBurgum\/status\/1914343506488754503\">saying<\/a> that the Biden administration\u2019s approval of the&nbsp;\u201cEmpire Wind project was built on bad and flawed science.\u201d At that time, Governor Hochul issued a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.governor.ny.gov\/news\/statement-governor-kathy-hochul-74\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>&nbsp;sharply critical of the stop-work order, declaring it was the product of \u201ca shortsighted, political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then in May, with no explanation on how the \u201cflawed scientific methodologies\u201d were resolved,&nbsp;the Trump Administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boem.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/renewable-energy\/state-activities\/BOEM%20Directors%20Order%20Empire%20Wind%20Amendment.pdf\">rescinded<\/a> the stop-work order for Empire Wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Interior Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecretaryBurgum\/status\/1924639319622393919\">commented<\/a> on his social media account that \u201cI am encouraged by Governor Hochul\u2019s comments about her willingness to move forward on critical pipeline capacity.\u201d&nbsp; The existence of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-05-20\/trump-u-turns-on-new-york-wind-farm-in-pipeline-deal-with-hochul\">deal<\/a> to lift the stop-work order&nbsp;in exchange for Governor Hochul\u2019s approval of constructing natural gas pipelines has been widely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/climate-energy\/equinor-says-us-lifts-stop-work-order-new-york-offshore-wind-farm-2025-05-19\/\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The governor has <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/nys\/central-ny\/politics\/2025\/09\/05\/pipeline-talk-is-heating-up-\">said<\/a> that no such deal is in place. However, the White House&nbsp;has publicly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/white-house-claims-hochul-caved-on-gas-pipelines-to-save-empire-wind\/\">stated&nbsp;<\/a>that the governor \u201ccaved\u201d to Trump on allowing two new gas pipelines through New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This past summer, the Hochul Administration began to move the pipeline projects. It issued a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dec.ny.gov\/news\/environmental-notice-bulletin\/2025-07-02\/public-notice\/queens-and-richmond-county-northeast-supply-enhancement-project\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">notice<\/a>&nbsp;that it was opening a public comment period, but with <em>no public hearings<\/em>. That approach stood at <a href=\"https:\/\/gofossilfree.org\/ny\/press-release\/stop-williams-hearings\/\">odds<\/a> with New York\u2019s previous reviews of the pipeline projects, which <em>included<\/em> public hearings. And in September, the state\u2019s Public Service Commission \u2013 an agency effectively controlled by the governor \u2013 gave its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesunion.com\/state\/article\/new-york-s-utility-regulator-endorsed-21055263.php\">approval<\/a> to the pipeline project. While the PSC has no formal role in the pipeline approval process, its endorsement is viewed as an indication of how the permit process is likely to play out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If approved, how will building pipelines square with the state\u2019s Climate Law? At the moment, there is no answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If approved, what will be the likely results for New Yorkers? Higher utility rates. If the pipelines are approved, <a href=\"https:\/\/gothamist.com\/news\/new-yorkers-to-foot-bill-for-pipeline-pushed-by-feds-new-report-says-costs-will-rise\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Yorkers will pay<\/a> dearly. Estimates show ratepayer costs at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/comptroller.nyc.gov\/newsroom\/comments-of-the-new-york-city-comptroller-brad-lander-submitted-to-the-new-york-state-department-of-environmental-conservation-regarding-the-northeast-supply-enhancement-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$200 million annually<\/a>&nbsp;for the next 15 years. And that\u2019s just to build the pipeline itself. The cost of gas is rising \u2013 gas supply costs remain&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/commodity\/natural-gas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">relatively low<\/a>, but gas utilities are allowed to charge us through the nose to maintain and build out the aging gas system. And looking forward, the&nbsp;price of piped gas is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/pdf\/cpi.pdf\">rising<\/a> more than 2x that of electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If these pipelines are approved, these costs \u2013 both environmental and financial \u2013 will be paid for over <a href=\"https:\/\/queenseagle.com\/all\/2025\/8\/14\/controversial-proposed-pipeline-off-queens-coast-could-make-comeback\">a decade or more<\/a>. Time that the planet\u2019s climate does <em>not<\/em> have and money that New Yorkers would <em>rather keep<\/em> in their pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s hoping that Governor Hochul gets the message and that New York\u2019s climate reversal doesn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New York State has consistently blocked the construction of new pipelines to allow for the transportation of gas. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has rejected new gas pipeline construction on the grounds that it would harm water quality. The rejection was also driven by a recognition that construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3261,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3260\/revisions\/3261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nypirg.org\/capitolperspective\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}