Photo credit: Marie Ziesche
New York, NY – 60 New York City area elected officials have signed on to a letter opposing the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) fracked gas pipeline. Many of them, including NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, joined New Yorkers and youth climate strikers on the steps of City Hall Friday morning to call on Governor Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to stop the controversial pipeline.
“We can’t claim to be fighting climate change while also building new fossil fuel infrastructure,” said NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. “The Williams pipeline is a symbol of a failed status quo. It’s time for change.”
The project, which would include a 23-mile-long pipeline that would run from New Jersey out into New York Harbor, passing a mile and a half from Staten Island and connecting to an existing pipeline less than four miles off of Rockaway Beach, would deliver fracked gas from Pennsylvania to New York City.
New Yorkers packed three public hearings and have submitted thousands of comments to the DEC opposing the pipeline citing threats to local communities, marine life and the climate. More than 14,400 people have signed a petition calling on Gov. Cuomo to deny the pipeline, along with over 200 New York organizations.
“We need Governor Cuomo to show the same bold leadership the New York City elected officials opposing the Williams Pipeline have shown,” said Lee Ziesche, organizer with Sane Energy Project. “It’s not enough to say you believe in climate change. If Governor Cuomo is serious about a Green New Deal for New York he must reject the Williams NESE fracked gas pipeline.”
The DEC has until May 16 to deny, approve or delay necessary permits for Williams to begin construction on the pipeline. This comes ahead of an anticipated report dropping next Tuesday showing lack of demand for the unnecessary and toxic Williams pipeline, and before next Wednesday’s massive #GreenNewDeal4NY Accountability Forum.
QUOTE SHEET:
“I stand with my fellow New Yorkers in opposing the Williams Pipeline, because adding this 23-mile fracked gas pipeline is an unacceptable risk that could contaminate our communities and marine life with toxic chemicals like arsenic, dioxin, and PCB’s,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim. “We have reached a critical moment in our country, and New York should be taking the lead in fighting climate change and greatly expanding our renewable energy usage. This project is a step backwards in the wrong direction, and will greatly harm the health and wellbeing of countless neighborhoods in our community.”
“The Williams Pipeline is dangerous. We are at a tipping point – our environment is fragile and, frankly, in a perilous state. Now is not the time to build out dirty and dangerous infrastructure that will keep us hooked on fracked gas for years to come,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal.
“The Williams Pipeline works against the need to convert to renewable energy sources,” said Assemblymember Felix Ortiz. “We have seen the destruction caused by changing weather patterns. There are already enough health problems and a weakened environment caused by our reliance on fossil fuel byproducts.”
“Fracked gas shouldn’t be treated like a bridge when we have a clear path to renewable energy now,” said Council Member Costa Constantinides, Chair of the New York City Council on Environmental Protection. “The Williams Pipeline will only disrupt the strides we’ve made to restore our once-amazing harbor after it was decimated by [Hurricane] Sandy. Do we really want to drive away the marine life we’ve seen return to places like Jamaica Bay or the Hudson River? We should focus on promoting renewable energy instead of ripping up our seabed or endangering our coastal communities.”
“If we’re going to protect New Yorkers from the worst impacts of climate change, we have to end our addiction to fossil fuel,” said State Senator Brad Holyman. “The construction of the Williams Pipeline risks irrevocable damage to New York’s coastline and the 350,000 jobs in our state’s ocean economy, and would undercut our goal of cutting at least 80 percent of emissions by 2050. I urge the NYSDEC to suspend the construction of the project and focus on a quick transition to a just, green, environmentally sustainable economy.”
“The proposed Williams pipeline is unacceptable as we move away from fossils fuels and towards renewable energy,” said Assemblymember Walter Mosley. “Instead of building pipelines that will force us to rely on fossil fuels, we should be focusing on infrastructure that will help decrease the effects of climate change. I am proud to speak out against this proposal and I will continue to do so until it is put to a stop.”
“The Williams pipeline poses immediate risks to human health and to marine life,” said Assembly Member Charles Barron. “The pipeline undercuts state promises on climate and would undermine New York’s commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. There’s no need for the gas this pipeline would carry. There’s no big new market for gas as a heating fuel. And with the region building more solar and wind capacity, there won’t be an uptick in demand for gas to generate electricity. If we want to confront the threat of climate change, we must end our reliance on fossil fuels and defeat new fossil fuel projects. I urge Governor Cuomo to stop the construction of this pipeline for the well-being of the residents of New York.”
“At a time when our focus should be on combating climate change and its effects, we need to be turning away from projects like the Williams Pipeline, fracking, and the negative impact it has on our environment,” said Council Member Mark Treyger. “Superstorm Sandy had a devastating impact on the marine health of our harbor and connected waterways, and this kind of project would only serve to further harm the marine fauna and flora, some of which has only just begun to recover. Let’s stand together as we break from fossil fuels and embrace the renewable energy sources that promise a brighter, better future for our city and our planet.”
“Climate change is already wreaking havoc on our planet, and expanding the sources of energy that are leading to global catastrophe, like the proposed Williams Pipeline, is unwise for both the long-term economic impacts of Long Island residents and more importantly, the fate of humanity,” said Andrew Poling, NYPIRG at College of Staten Island.
“It’s powerful to have New York’s elected officials join the thousands of us fighting to protect our communities from the toxic Williams pipeline. For New York to be a real model for climate action, we need to stop all fossil fuels, move to 100% renewables for all, and secure a Green New Deal that works for all of us. Any politician who claims to be a climate leader — including Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo — must join us in stopping the Williams pipeline,” said Cata Romo, Fossil Free New York campaigner with 350.org.
Photo credit: Maria Ziesche
More information: www.StopTheWilliamsPipeline.org
Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition organized by New York Communities for Change, Sustainable Staten Island, Rockaway Beach Civic Association, Sane Energy Project, 350BK, 350.org, Food & Water Watch, United for Action, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Surfrider NYC Chapter, Ocean Action Research Rockaway and more.
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