Officials and locals call on Hochul to stop pipeline
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Local activists and over 130 elected officials across New York State are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to kill a controversial and potentially harmful gas pipeline. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach
By Ryan Schwach
A coalition of over 100 local and state elected officials are joining activists in calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to kill a controversial and potentially harmful fracked gas pipeline that would run off the coast of Queens.
The electeds are insisting Hochul kill the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement Pipeline, which would run less than 10 miles away from Queens’ Rockaway peninsula. The expedited public comment period for the project ended last weekend, and the Trump Administration is pushing for its approval.
The officials – 131 in total – include Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Comptroller Brad Lander, 11 members of the Queens political delegation and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who is actively running against his boss in next year’s gubernatorial election.
They join environmental activists, some of whom rallied in Rockaway on Tuesday, who have long pointed out the potential environmental impacts the pipeline could bring to Queens and coastal wildlife.
In order to build the 23.5 mile underwater gas pipeline, Oklahoma-based energy company Williams Transco would need to dredge up – or trench – the sea floor, potentially stirring up toxins that have been settling there for over half a century. In the worst case scenario, activists have warned about the catastrophic consequences should the pipe leak or explode.
On top of the potential environmental impacts, the pipeline’s opponents say that it is local utility payers who are likely to have the $926.5 million cost of the pipelines’ construction passed onto them through their energy bills.
“The pipeline would threaten water quality, churn up toxic sediment from a contaminated seabed, disturb sensitive wildlife habitat in New York Harbor,” the officials said in their letter. “[NESE] would exacerbate a climate crisis by locking us into decades of further reliance on fracked natural gas.”
“We must stand together to protect our constituents,” they added.
The pipeline would connect with energy company Williams Transco’s wider network of gas pipelines. The company says the pipeline would spur economic development, create jobs and lower energy bills.
Activists have successfully stopped the pipeline three separate times in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and are now hoping to again.
In their way this time is President Donald Trump, who in his second administration has intensified efforts to fight back against renewable energy construction and support the fossil fuel industry.
The Trump Administration is in favor of the Williams NESE as well as another Williams pipeline in upstate New York.
“The only difference now is that Trump and the gas industry are joining together in an attempt to bully New York into approving the pipelines,” the officials' letter said. “These were bad projects when New York denied them previously, and they’re even worse now. As we face an administration eager to grab power from states, it is imperative that state leaders stand up and defend state sovereignty, particularly in instances such as this.”
In response to the letter, Hochul said all projects will be viewed impartially by the required agencies to make sure they are in line with state and federal laws.
“Under Governor Hochul, New York is a national leader in renewable energy investments and remains committed to building a grid that is clean, affordable, and reliable,” said Ken Lovett, Hochul’s senior communications advisor on energy and environment. “As the White House rejects any new permitting of offshore wind projects and Republicans in Congress cut billions in subsidies for renewable energy, the Governor is laser-focused on an all-of-the-above approach that will keep the lights on for New Yorkers while also prioritizing affordability and strong economic development.”
Williams did not specifically comment on the letter when asked.
Nonprofit outlet New York Focus reported this month that new efforts to get the Williams Pipeline could be spurred by an alleged deal between Hochul and Trump.
The outlet reported that Williams’ announcement that it was reapplying for approval for the pipeline this year came just ten days after Hochul met with the president.
At that meeting, Trump said he would lift a stop-work order on the Empire Offshore Wind Project, a major clean energy effort Hochul supports.
Days later, the White House said that Hochul “caved” on “two natural gas pipelines” in New York State, giving some environmentalists the indication that the governor may have traded Empire for the Williams Pipeline.
Hochul’s office has denied that a deal was made.
“I would be extremely disappointed in this governor, disappointed in this administration, if something like this were to happen, if there were a deal that was made,” said Queens Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson, who represents the Rockaways and is a signatory on the letter. “Governor Hochul needs to build up the courage to say that Donald Trump does not get to say what's built in our communities.”
Anderson rallied on the Rockaway Boardwalk on Tuesday alongside activists who joined the officials in their calls for the governor to stop the pipeline.
“We know it's bad for the climate, we know it's bad for our water, we know it will raise utility bills,” said Santosh Nandabalan, a climate organizer with New York Communities for Change. “New York needs to lead in this moment. We need to step up to Trump. We need to lower bills for these residents over here on the other side of the boardwalk, and we need to protect the water and our climate.”
Anderson and other advocates highlighted Rockaway’s history on the front lines of climate issues including flooding and the increasing regularity of extreme weather.
The assemblymember said the pipeline would be further "environmental degradation" for the shorefront community.
“We're saying again that this pipeline will be catastrophic to our families here on the Rockwood peninsula, and that ain't right,” he said. “The Rockaway peninsula has been the butt of many of the environmental negatives…we know that this community is one of the first that is impacted by environmental negatives, and that this pipeline would do no justice to the families who live here.”
The Williams Pipeline's approval is currently before the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Activists say it is likely the agency makes a decision on the future of the pipeline this year.
