New York regulators revive controversial pipeline debate
New York’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved National Grid’s long-term natural gas plan, reopening debate over the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline beneath New York Harbor, according to an Albany-based CBS News affiliate. The commission said the plan is necessary to safeguard gas reliability for millions of downstate customers during peak winter demand.
The PSC’s decision does not authorize construction, but it acknowledges that additional infrastructure — including NESE — may be required to prevent shortages. National Grid maintains the project is critical for reliability, while opponents argue it undermines New York’s legally mandated climate targets and poses environmental risks.
Environmental groups emphasized that state law requires a 40% cut in emissions by 2030, and expanding fossil fuel infrastructure would make that goal unattainable, CBS News reported. They also cited previous denials of the pipeline in 2018, 2019 and 2020 over water quality and cost concerns.
The pipeline remains divisive among state leaders. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado labeled the project “unnecessary,” while Gov. Kathy Hochul has left the door open, saying any permit application will be reviewed impartially by the Department of Environmental Conservation, which holds final approval authority.
The PSC’s vote underscores the growing tension between infrastructure reliability and climate policy, with the NESE pipeline once again at the center of New York’s energy debate.
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