As Trump Tries to Bully Gov. Hochul Into Approving Pipelines (Again), Advocates Tell Her: Don't Cave!

NEW YORK, NY (11/04/2025) (readMedia)-- Yesterday, President Trump posted on Truth Social attempting to bully Governor Hochul into approving the Williams NESE and Constitution pipelines. He wrote:

"Governor Kathy Hochul of New York State is killing the entire region with Energy Prices that are OUT OF CONTROL, and expected to TRIPLE because she can't get an Upstate and, separately, Long Island, PIPELINE built. All of Connecticut, including its Governor, and New England, are REALLY ANGRY AT HER..."

In response, Roger Downs, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Conservation Director, issued the following statement:

"Regulators have already rejected these pipelines multiple times, and New Yorkers have made our voices loud and clear that we don't want them. The only person who wants them is Trump and his fossil fuel cronies. Governor Hochul has already stood up to Trump on abortions, vaccines, and democracy - now's her chance to stand up to him on climate, the environment, and rising energy bills (which would go up $3 million/year because of the NESE pipeline alone). Governor Hochul: don't cave to fascist bullies. Reject the pipelines NOW!"

Background

Neither the NESE or Constitution applications have been amended since they were repeatedly denied by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which means they both still pose the exact same environmental threats to New York. The Constitution pipeline would threaten more than 250 waterways throughout Upstate New York, endangering sensitive habitats and wildlife populations that depend on healthy ecosystems, while the Williams NESE pipeline would stir up toxic contaminants in the New York Harbor that harm critical fisheries and other wildlife habitats.

In addition to serious threats to ecosystems across the State, these pipelines would force regular New Yorkers to pay billions to expand fossil fuel infrastructure that is increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain. National Grid's own estimates state that the NESE pipeline alone will cost New Yorkers at least $2.2 billion and force ratepayers to pay more than $200 million every year for the next 15 years - though a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) suggests the real cost to New Yorkers is closer to $3.2 billion.