A New York Vote is Reigniting Debate over New York’s Energy Future. On Thursday, the State Public Service Commission (PSC) Accepted National Grid’s Long-Term Gas Plan, a Blueprint the Utility Company says is necessary to ensure Reliable Energy for Millions of New Yorkers Downstate. Included in that Plan is the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Pipeline, a Ccontroversial Pipeline that would run beneath New York Harbor, supplying Natural Gas to parts of New York City.
This Project is solely aimed at Improving Gas Reliability in New York City. It will Not Impact Gas delivery and Rates for Upstate Customers. While the PSC did Not Approve the Pipeline itself, the Commission Agreed with National Grid, that Steps need to be taken to Address and Prevent Outages and Potential Shortfalls in Gas Supply during Peak Winter Demand, especially when Severe Winter Weather Strikes.
The Company has Argued that the NESE Pipeline is a Key part of that Strategy. “The gas planning activities we require National Grid to undertake today will ensure that National Grid continues to provide safe, adequate, and reliable service while striving to meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian.
"The PSC order today affirms our determination that the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline project is needed for enhanced reliability of our gas network,” said Sally Librera, President, National Grid New York.
Environmental Advocates Quickly Pushed Back, saying the Decision Undermines the State’s Legally Mandated Climate Goals. “We’re supposed to be reducing our emissions by 40-percent in 2030. And right now we’re only at about 9-percent,” said Kim Fraczek, Director of the Sane Energy Project. “Building the Williams-NESE pipeline and allowing National Grid to expand its gas system will make sure that we will never meet that legal goal.”
“New York State denied this pipeline in 2018, 2019, and in 2020 because it would have destroyed our water and it would have been way too expensive for New Yorkers to feasibly afford,” She added.
PSC Commissioner John Maggiore, who Cast the Lone Dissenting Vote, said Expanding Fossil Fuel Infrastructure would be Counterintuitive in Reducing the State’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions. “The NESE pipeline could in certain circumstances mitigate the risk of potential cataclysmic failure of the gas system that nearly happened in 2022. Nonetheless approval of this order will not do anything to help what almost happened in 2022 if it happens in 2025. Whatever we do today the threat demands an adaptive response not simply a technical one,” He said.
Fraczek says there is New Clean Energy Technology already Developed that is Capable of Replacing the Gas system. “There are pilot projects going on in New York State for thermal energy networks. Now this is something that could absolutely replace the gas system. This is using wasted heat that goes off into the atmosphere and storing it in a water pipeline to be used when it's needed,” said Fraczek.
The NESE Pipeline has faced Repeated Rejections in the past, from the State Department of Environmental Conservation, which cited Environmental and Public Health Risks. On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado (D) expressed His Opposition to the Project, calling it “still toxic, still unnecessary, and still a handout to fossil fuel billionaires.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), however, has Signaled She is Not fully Opposed. “At a time when the federal government has launched a full-on attack on renewables, the Governor is pushing an all-of-the-above approach that prioritizes affordability, grid reliability, and economic development. While the Governor understands the PSC's finding that National Grid's long-term plan addresses a reliability need, she has also been clear that any application to DEC to resolve that need must be reviewed impartially to determine compliance with state and federal laws,” said Ken Lovett (D), Senior Communications Advisor on Energy and Environment for Governor Kathy Hochul.
The Final Decision on the Pipeline rests with the Department of Environmental Conservation, which is expected to Rule on the Project soon.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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