Sen. Krueger: Energy Affordability Means No Trump Pipelines

ALBANY, NY (09/12/2025) (readMedia)-- Last week, in response to continued pressure from New Yorkers to reject two major Trump-backed pipeline proposals across the state, Governor Hochul urged lawmakers to "join the Governor... to ensure we keep the lights on for New Yorkers while also prioritizing affordability and strong economic development." In response, Senator Liz Krueger issued the following statement:

"I completely agree with the Governor on the need for a comprehensive approach to our energy affordability crisis. That's exactly why I oppose President Trump's attempts to enrich his fossil fuel friends by building pipelines that will saddle New Yorkers with billions of dollars in new costs for decades to come and keep us hooked on expensive, unreliable fracked gas.

"Instead of doubling down on the same 20th-century fossil fuel technologies, we should invest in modern, renewable energy that delivers real relief and long-term stability for a 21st-century grid. And rather than adding $200 million to New Yorkers' bills every year to fund these new pipelines, the Governor should save families $200 million a year by signing the legislation on her desk to repeal the outdated 100-foot rule. I look forward to working with the Governor to deliver real reliability and save families money, and hope she focuses her efforts on building a more affordable energy future for all New Yorkers."

Background

After meeting with President Trump this Spring, Governor Hochul reportedly agreed to fast-track two long-dead pipeline proposals that her own state agency repeatedly denied: the Williams NESE pipeline, which would run through the New York Harbor and into Far Rockaway; and the Constitution pipeline, which would run across 125 miles of the Southern Tier and into the Albany area.

These pipelines would force regular New Yorkers to pay billions to expand fossil fuel infrastructure that is increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain. The Williams NESE pipeline alone will cost more than $1.3 billion, forcing ratepayers to pay $200 million every year for more than a decade on construction. While energy companies promise it will eventually decrease costs, National Grid estimates its New York City and Long Island customers would see a 3.5% increase in costs to pay for construction - adding to repeated rate hikes already making energy unaffordable for most New Yorkers. In addition to direct construction costs, the pipelines would also jeopardize hundreds of millions in local economic activity, tourism, fishing and other small businesses that rely on healthy local ecosystems.

The decision is now sparking serious pushback from lawmakers across both parties urging the Governor to reject Trump's pipelines. Earlier this month, Zohran Mamdani became the latest lawmaker to publicly oppose the pipelines. In a rare moment of criticism from Democratic Members of Congress, Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Hakeem Jeffries, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Nydia Velazquez signed a letter to Governor Hochul raising serious environmental concerns with the proposed NESE pipeline and urging her to extend the public comment period. Her Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado also signed a letter to the Governor urging her to reject these pipelines, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island has similarly denounced the reported deal, calling it "extortion." Republican Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella also sent a letter this week to the State urging officials to reject the NESE pipeline.