THE BLUEPRINT:
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Long Island trade groups support the revived gas pipeline project
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Northeast Supply Enhancement would add 37 miles to Williams’ system
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Pipeline could save NY up to $6B and reduce diesel truck use
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Project still faces opposition from environmental and local groups
A coalition of Long Island business and real estate trade groups have renewed their support of a newly revived natural gas pipeline project.
The coalition, which includes the Association for a Better Long Island, Long Island Association, Long Island Builders Institute, Long Island Contractors Association, Hauppauge Industrial Association of LI, Long Island Board of Realtors and Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island, sent a letter to state officials last week reaffirming its support for the Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which would build a new 37-mile mostly underwater addition to an existing Williams Transco natural gas pipeline system that runs from Texas through parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, New York and onto Long Island.
The letter coincided with the August 16 end of public comment period for the proposed pipeline to get the greenlight from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. After facing pushback from environmental advocacy groups, the project had been squashed by previous New York and New Jersey administrations, but it was revived by a reported deal between Gov. Kathy Hochul and President Donald Trump in May to unfreeze the Empire Wind project in exchange for advancing the pipeline. It’s unclear if New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will reverse his previous opposition to the project.
The letter from the Long Island business and real estate organizations outlined the need for the pipeline project which it said, “will protect our region’s economic viability by making energy more reliable and affordable.” It cited independent analysis that the pipeline could save New Yorkers up to $6 billion in electricity costs over 15 years and reduce reliance on diesel-fueled truck deliveries, which will lower greenhouse gas emissions.
“As our region’s demand for energy continues to grow, it is critical that we look ahead to ensure that our economy has the necessary infrastructure in pace to meet that demand,” Kyle Strober, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island, told LIBN. “While some ideologists will balk at the thought of a natural gas pipeline, the reality is this project is a pragmatic step forward that balances our immediate energy reliability needs with our long-term sustainability objectives.”
Williams, the company that would build the pipeline project, says the expansion of the system would add enough capacity to supply natural gas to the equivalent of 2.3 million homes, create about 2,000 jobs and generate $548 million in economic activity. The company had hoped to begin construction on the project in the third quarter of this year, with completion slated for Q4 2027.
However, the project still faces continued opposition from several environmental groups and local elected officials on Long Island, in New York City and New Jersey.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
