Latest news with #ConstitutionPipeline
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Building the Constitution Pipeline is vital for New England's grid stability
In 2016, the Cuomo administration New England residents now pay a premium for foreign energy supplies instead. At any given hour, Advertisement New England imports most of that natural gas from Canada, and it imports liquified natural gas from as far away as How did we get here? In 2012, the Constitution Pipeline was But in 2016, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation denied pipeline developer Williams Cos. a water quality certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which the statute places largely under the purview of states. Advertisement After much legal wrangling, in 2020, Williams Cos. abandoned the critical infrastructure project. Cuomo and his allies argued pipeline would stymie renewable energy development in New York. This was an overreach of statutory power. Perhaps ironically, New England has become a casualty of New York's decisions. The siren song of climate zealots has derailed American infrastructure projects. And residents pay the price, literally. It's time to build the Constitution Pipeline Massachusetts consumes much more electricity than it generates. Though the state runs on the cheapest source of baseload power — natural gas — it had the third-highest residential electricity prices in the nation in 2023, in large part because of lack of infrastructure. Meanwhile, Infrastructure constraints have also threatened grid reliability as ISO-NE, the region's grid operator, scrambles for natural gas to produce reliable affordable and constant supplies of baseload power in an ever-growing market. The region's last two operational coal-fired power plants are set to close by 2028 and be replaced with solar power plants and battery storage that can't provide baseload power during harsh New England winters. Harsh winters mean high heating bills, which are expected to rise over the next decade without adequate infrastructure. Advertisement I have been meeting with communities in all six states that comprise New England, which also represent EPA Region 1. Businesses and industry leaders are optimistic and ready to invest in innovation, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. But they recognize the need for more power generation and the underlying infrastructure to support it, to support the growth of industry across New England. Under the Trump administration, the EPA has worked to remove hurdles to critical infrastructure expansion to achieve energy dominance and strengthen national security. Right now, we are working to assess whether it is necessary to clarify the guide rails of states' abilities under the Clean Water Act Section 401 to deny water quality certification. The EPA has initiated a public comment period, which includes States should not block critical energy infrastructure in the name of climate change, as New York's former governor did. And states like New York should not have veto authority to dictate energy policy for, and increase energy costs of, other states. New England should come together to support American energy infrastructure, including the Constitution Pipeline project, to provide much-needed grid stability, create jobs, and reduce energy prices across the region for American families who have suffered long enough.
New York Post
01-08-2025
- Business
- New York Post
To make NY more affordable, Gov. Hochul needs to ditch her all-electric plan and push natural gas
New York has some of the highest residential and commercial construction costs, and ranks in the top 10 most expensive states to live. Yet rather than focus on ways to make it more affordable for residents and attractive for investments, Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing to make gas stoves in new buildings illegal. Go figure. Her 2023 All-Electric Buildings Act bans natural-gas hookups in new buildings that are seven stories or less — meaning no gas stoves, hot-water heaters, furnaces, or any other gas appliances are allowed, starting in 2029. This is a serious blow to freedom, common sense, and the future of the Empire State. Advertisement It's even worse considering the state of New York's electric grid. Energy prices are roughly 33% higher than the national average. A 2023 study by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission warned New York's grid is on the brink of collapse, and it's only luck that has kept the state from total catastrophe and loss of life. If such a damning FERC study were released by the Biden administration, one can only speculate how much worse the reality could be. Advertisement Meanwhile, there's no reason to push people off natural gas. In fact, most of the world is desperate for more of it, not less. Germany just committed to a three-year purchase of US gas. Japan invested $44 billion in a natural-gas pipeline in Alaska. A few days ago, President Donald Trump announced a $750 billion deal for American energy, including natural gas, with the European Union. Advertisement New York seems alone in rejecting the economic benefits and the scientific evidence. So much for 'trust the science.' In addition to the strain put on the grid by forgoing reliable, affordable natural gas and mandating electric appliances and machinery, New York continues to entice the construction of power-grabbing data centers. Recently, it offered half a billion dollars in taxpayer-provided subsidies to lure a new data center in Genesee that'll consume 250 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 100,000 homes. Hochul's all-electric plan represents two big punches to the face: First, it makes already expensive New York even more costly. Advertisement Second, it makes an already vulnerable electric grid even more precarious by demanding more from it. Like the mathematical certainty of the sinking of the Titanic, New York's electric grid, under Hochul's 'leadership,' is headed for collapse. Not if, but when. Yet easy fixes can relieve the strain on the grid and lower costs — and provide political boons for the governor ahead of her reelection run next year. First, delay the all-electric plan. Encourage natural gas for new construction instead. The more appliances like hot water heaters and stoves that run on natural gas, the less the strain on the grid. Second, fast-track construction of the Constitution Pipeline. This project will bring natural gas from Pennsylvania into upstate New York and New England, and offer a reliable, affordable energy source to millions. Yes, environmental groups will holler, but most voters will back the governor when they see their utility hikes simmering down. Advertisement Third, reopen the Indian Point nuclear-power plant, the 3,200-megawatt facility unwisely closed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2021. This facility is now being decommissioned, a process that'll last more than 30 years. But getting it back online — as massive a project as that might be — is certainly faster and cheaper than the governor's plan to build new nuclear facilities. Energy is everything, and sound energy policy will not just make the state more affordable and livable, and the grid more reliable; it'll make Hochul more electable. Like the grid, her political standing is precarious. More than half (53%) of New Yorkers oppose Hochul's gas ban. Even among fellow Democrats, less than half (48%) believe the state is moving in the right direction. Advertisement New York's path to a better energy future, greater economic development, lower costs for residents and a more secure grid is clear. The first step is stopping this illogical ban on natural gas. Does Hochul have the political will and savvy to pull it off? Advertisement Daniel Turner is the founder and executive director of Power The Future, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. Email: daniel@
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Trump and Williams reviving the Constitution Pipeline may result in another New York gas project proceeding instead
President Trump's fixation with reviving a long-dead natural gas pipeline to New York is now resulting in action—for not one but two New York gas pipeline projects. Trump's focus on the 124-mile Constitution Pipeline that was canceled in 2020 may instead result in pipeline developer Williams Cos. reviving its more practical Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project in New York instead, according to energy analysts. Williams filed a federal application May 29 to resuscitate its NESE project that expands its Transco natural gas pipeline network in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. NESE was previously axed by Williams a year ago after state-level water permit denials. As for Constitution, Williams said it has begun 'working through state permitting matters' for the pipeline project that would run from the Marcellus Shale gas fields in northeastern Pennsylvania to markets in New York and beyond. The most feasible result is Williams is using the political and regulatory push from the Trump administration for Constitution to instead help it build the NESE project in New York, said Zach Krause, team lead for equity research at East Daley Analytics. 'Constitution is impractical,' Krause said, arguing the pipeline would tie into another pipeline network, called Iroquois, which is operating at full capacity and would need to turn away much of its existing gas flows from Canada to accommodate Constitution. '[NESE] is a project that works much better,' Krause said. NESE involves building about 37 miles of pipeline expanding parts of the Transco network in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to carry more gas to the New York and New Jersey markets. The new NESE application asks for expedited action by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by the end of August so construction could commence by the end of this year. Both the NESE and Constitution projects were killed amid regulatory and political pushback in New York, but now they're resurrected amid Trump's executive orders declaring a national energy emergency and a push for American energy dominations. Trump first brought up resuscitating Constitution back in February during an Oval Office briefing. The news even caught Williams CEO Alan Armstrong by surprise. Shortly thereafter, in an interview with this reporter for Hart Energy, Armstrong said, 'We were kind of like, 'Whoa, where'd that come from?'' He added, 'We'd love to see it get built, obviously.' In early May, during Williams' earning call, Armstrong placed a greater emphasis on the NESE project when asked about Constitution. 'NESE's a lot easier to pull the trigger on,' Armstrong said. 'Frankly, [it's] just a lot less complex and highly dependent on the state of New York and the governor there deciding that they need low-cost, low-emission energy into those markets. So, we'll see what happens on that.' Williams Executive Vice President Chad Zamarin, who will become CEO in July when Armstrong moves to the non-executive chairman role, added at the time, 'I don't think there's too much to mention yet on the Constitution. We're continuing to work on it.' In a May 29 statement, mentioning NESE first, Williams said, 'The NESE and Constitution projects are essential to address persistent natural gas supply constraints in the Northeast, constraints that have led to higher energy costs for consumers and increased reliance on higher-emission fuels like fuel oil.' Williams is progressing with the NESE project less than 10 days after the Trump administration removed its freeze on Equinor's Empire Wind project offshore of New York. With legal action pending after the Trump administration had placed a stop work order on Empire Wind, which was in the early stages of construction, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul intervened to help mediate the issue with the White House. When the Trump administration removed its objection to Empire Wind, Hochul said in a statement that she would 'work with the administration and private entities on new energy projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law.' While she denied any quid pro quo, the Trump administration alleged Hochul caved on the Williams pipeline projects. Trump's Interior secretary, Doug Burgum, who initially implemented the Empire Wind stoppage, said on social media, 'I am encouraged by Governor Hochul's comments about her willingness to move forward on critical pipeline capacity. Americans who live in New York and New England would see significant economic benefits and lower utility costs from increased access to reliable, affordable, clean American natural gas.' Hinds Howard, an energy analyst for CBRE Investment, said Williams would only move forward with NESE and Constitution if 'serious assurances [were] made' that the projects would see the finish line this time around. This story was originally featured on
Bloomberg
28-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Williams to Revive Disputed Gas Pipeline Projects in New York
Williams Cos. is preparing to revive plans for two scrapped pipelines that would deliver natural gas to New York. The Tulsa-based company is preparing to file paperwork with federal energy regulators for both the Constitution Pipeline and Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which would transport natural gas from Pennsylvania across the Northeast, said people familiar with the matter who weren't authorized to speak publicly. Those filings could happen imminently, one of the people said.
Wall Street Journal
28-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Controversial Constitution Pipeline Project Is About to Be Revived
Developers of two left-for-dead natural-gas pipeline projects in New York are preparing to file permitting paperwork with federal energy regulators to move forward with the projects, according to people familiar with the matter. Pipeline company Williams WMB 0.85%increase; green up pointing triangle is set to try again to build the Constitution and Northeast Supply Enhancement pipelines, which would shuttle natural gas from Appalachian gas fields throughout the Northeast.
