SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Members of the Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition gathered for a press conference holding signs and banners outside National Grid Corporate Headquarters in Brooklyn to launch the #ClimateStrikeUtilities campaign, calling out corporate utilities National Grid and ConEdison for their alleged role in perpetuating climate change by expanding fracked gas pipelines and other infrastructure in New York City and Long Island, unethically raising rates, and holding small businesses and local residents hostage in order to manufacture a demand for the twice-denied Williams NESE fracked gas pipeline. (Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
'We Are Winning This Fight': NY Gov. Cuomo Announces Opposition to Fracked Gas Pipeline
The governor also accused the gas distristutor of possible extortion over a moratorium on gas installations until the pipeline is approved.
Sep 25, 2019
Environmental campaigners celebrated Wednesday what they framed as a victory for people power after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo publicly declared his opposition to a fracked gas pipeline project.
\u201cHuge victory! Congrats to @nychange and Stop the Williams Pipeline coalition!\u201d— Cynthia Nixon (@Cynthia Nixon) 1569378653
"We have taken a position: We're against the pipeline," Cuomo told WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show. "That's our position."
At issue is the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE), commonly referred to as the Williams Pipeline, which would add on to existing infrastructure to link the fossil fuel from Pennsylvania to New York, passing under New York Harbor.
Gas distributor National Grid put a moratorium on new gas installations until the pipeline project is approved, citing supply deficiencies. The move prompted an inquiry by Attorney General Letitia James and drew the ire of activists as well as Cuomo.
"If they're extorting people, and wrongfully turning off gas service to homes to create political pressure, I'm not negotiating over that," said Cuomo in his remarks to WNYC. "That's extortion. That's a crime."
Cuomo's comments were welcomed by the Stop the Wiliams Pipeline Coalition, which is organized by groups including 350 Brooklyn, Food and Water Watch, and New York Communities for Change.
"This is the clearest sign yet that we are winning this fight," the coalition said, "and that National Grid--with its fake gas shortage, abusive tactics, and attempts at extortion--is losing it miserably."
"The governor's opposition is a victory for us and for New Yorkers," the coalition added, uring Cuomo to deny the Williams Pipeline "and all other pipelines and gasinfrastructure projects across the state--for good."
In May, the state rejected the project. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in a statement, said, "Construction of the NESE pipeline project is projected to result in water quality violations and fails to meet New York State's rigorous water quality standards." Energy company Williams has reapplied for a permit.
\u201cGovernor Cuomo was right on this morning, as he effectively buried the climate-destroying Williams pipeline proposal:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re against the pipeline.\u201d \n\nWe \u2764\ufe0f fossil fuel executive tears \ud83d\ude2d \n\nNow... uhhh... about that Green New Deal, Gov #StopTheWilliamsPipeline #GNDUprising\u201d— New York Communities for Change (@New York Communities for Change) 1569345924
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Environmental campaigners celebrated Wednesday what they framed as a victory for people power after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo publicly declared his opposition to a fracked gas pipeline project.
\u201cHuge victory! Congrats to @nychange and Stop the Williams Pipeline coalition!\u201d— Cynthia Nixon (@Cynthia Nixon) 1569378653
"We have taken a position: We're against the pipeline," Cuomo told WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show. "That's our position."
At issue is the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE), commonly referred to as the Williams Pipeline, which would add on to existing infrastructure to link the fossil fuel from Pennsylvania to New York, passing under New York Harbor.
Gas distributor National Grid put a moratorium on new gas installations until the pipeline project is approved, citing supply deficiencies. The move prompted an inquiry by Attorney General Letitia James and drew the ire of activists as well as Cuomo.
"If they're extorting people, and wrongfully turning off gas service to homes to create political pressure, I'm not negotiating over that," said Cuomo in his remarks to WNYC. "That's extortion. That's a crime."
Cuomo's comments were welcomed by the Stop the Wiliams Pipeline Coalition, which is organized by groups including 350 Brooklyn, Food and Water Watch, and New York Communities for Change.
"This is the clearest sign yet that we are winning this fight," the coalition said, "and that National Grid--with its fake gas shortage, abusive tactics, and attempts at extortion--is losing it miserably."
"The governor's opposition is a victory for us and for New Yorkers," the coalition added, uring Cuomo to deny the Williams Pipeline "and all other pipelines and gasinfrastructure projects across the state--for good."
In May, the state rejected the project. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in a statement, said, "Construction of the NESE pipeline project is projected to result in water quality violations and fails to meet New York State's rigorous water quality standards." Energy company Williams has reapplied for a permit.
\u201cGovernor Cuomo was right on this morning, as he effectively buried the climate-destroying Williams pipeline proposal:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re against the pipeline.\u201d \n\nWe \u2764\ufe0f fossil fuel executive tears \ud83d\ude2d \n\nNow... uhhh... about that Green New Deal, Gov #StopTheWilliamsPipeline #GNDUprising\u201d— New York Communities for Change (@New York Communities for Change) 1569345924
Environmental campaigners celebrated Wednesday what they framed as a victory for people power after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo publicly declared his opposition to a fracked gas pipeline project.
\u201cHuge victory! Congrats to @nychange and Stop the Williams Pipeline coalition!\u201d— Cynthia Nixon (@Cynthia Nixon) 1569378653
"We have taken a position: We're against the pipeline," Cuomo told WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show. "That's our position."
At issue is the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE), commonly referred to as the Williams Pipeline, which would add on to existing infrastructure to link the fossil fuel from Pennsylvania to New York, passing under New York Harbor.
Gas distributor National Grid put a moratorium on new gas installations until the pipeline project is approved, citing supply deficiencies. The move prompted an inquiry by Attorney General Letitia James and drew the ire of activists as well as Cuomo.
"If they're extorting people, and wrongfully turning off gas service to homes to create political pressure, I'm not negotiating over that," said Cuomo in his remarks to WNYC. "That's extortion. That's a crime."
Cuomo's comments were welcomed by the Stop the Wiliams Pipeline Coalition, which is organized by groups including 350 Brooklyn, Food and Water Watch, and New York Communities for Change.
"This is the clearest sign yet that we are winning this fight," the coalition said, "and that National Grid--with its fake gas shortage, abusive tactics, and attempts at extortion--is losing it miserably."
"The governor's opposition is a victory for us and for New Yorkers," the coalition added, uring Cuomo to deny the Williams Pipeline "and all other pipelines and gasinfrastructure projects across the state--for good."
In May, the state rejected the project. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in a statement, said, "Construction of the NESE pipeline project is projected to result in water quality violations and fails to meet New York State's rigorous water quality standards." Energy company Williams has reapplied for a permit.
\u201cGovernor Cuomo was right on this morning, as he effectively buried the climate-destroying Williams pipeline proposal:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re against the pipeline.\u201d \n\nWe \u2764\ufe0f fossil fuel executive tears \ud83d\ude2d \n\nNow... uhhh... about that Green New Deal, Gov #StopTheWilliamsPipeline #GNDUprising\u201d— New York Communities for Change (@New York Communities for Change) 1569345924
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.