U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Calls Trump-Hochul Pipeline Deal: "Extortion"

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI (08/28/2025) (readMedia)-- This week, as Governor Hochul continues to fast-track two major fracked gas pipelines at the Trump administration's direction, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island became the latest federal lawmaker to denounce the reported "deal" to approve fossil fuel projects in exchange for the federal government allowing offshore wind projects to continue.

Speaking in Rhode Island about the Trump administration's stop-work order on the Revolution Wind project, Whitehouse pointed to the similar situation in New York, stating, "In New York, the cost was that the Governor had to clear a couple of pipelines. For who? Oh, right, the fossil fuel industry, of course. And then Empire [Wind] went forward." He continued: "We are in the opening stages of what, in my law enforcement days, I would have referred to as extortion. And as a student of history, I will certainly refer to what the founding fathers would have called corruption."

In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that the pipeline company behind the long-denied Constitution Pipeline and the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipelines is attempting to revive the projects following discussions between Trump and Governor Hochul talks. After a meeting between Governor Hochul and the Trump administration, the White House claimed that Hochul had "caved" on the pipelines in exchange for the President allowing a wind project in New York State to continue. Hochul has hardly denied that a deal was made, and instead committed to advancing projects within the administration.

Despite widespread opposition to the deal - including not just from everyday New Yorkers but even Hochul's own allies in Congress - the Governor is moving full speed ahead to appease Trump before New Yorkers can stop her.

Background

Since being revived, neither application has changed, meaning both the NESE and Constitution pipelines still pose the exact same environmental threats to New York since they were first denied under section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. 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.

These pipelines would also 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.

Governor Hochul's decision to fast-track the decision-making process for NESE (and consider the same rushed process for Constitution once its application is complete) is putting her at odds with the vast majority of New Yorkers - including many of her own allies - who oppose Trump's pipelines. Earlier this month, 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.

In July, hundreds of residents and advocates rallied with elected officials in Brooklyn to demand the Governor reject these proposals, and just this month more than 130 state lawmakers - including her own Lieutenant Governor - signed a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to reject these pipelines. Advocates also joined elected officials outside the Governor's office to deliver more than 10,000 new public comments (in addition to 40,000 that have already been submitted to the State) demanding she listen to her constituents and reject these costly, dangerous pipelines.