Staten Island Residents Demand Hochul Stop $3.2B NESE Pipeline Due To Ecosystem Damage, Increased Energy Costs
Dozens in Staten Island demand Hochul stop $3.2B NESE pipeline
Residents warn project would raise bills while threatening local waters and beaches
Editor’s note: We have reported on this issue in the past including the previous protest organized by the same groups, along with some questions and answers as received from NYS DEC.
Staten Island, NY — On Thursday evening, Staten Island residents and community groups gathered on the steps of Borough Hall to urge Governor Hochul to reject the proposed Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) fracked gas pipeline. The $3.2 billion project has been repeatedly denied for violating water quality standards, yet is now back under review.
Dozens of Staten Islanders joined the rally, highlighting how the pipeline would saddle National Grid customers with higher bills — even though Staten Island won’t directly receive any of the gas. Community members emphasized that the borough would bear the environmental risks and financial costs without any benefits.
“This pipeline is nothing but a raw deal for Staten Island,” said Eric Weltman, Senior Organizer at Food & Water Watch. “Families here would be forced to pay higher bills while bearing all the environmental risks, even though the gas won’t serve them. Governor Hochul must stand with everyday New Yorkers, not pipeline companies, and reject this dangerous and unnecessary project once and for all.”
“We’ve already defeated the NESE pipeline years ago, and going backwards just because Trump wants to get his Big Oil buddies paid isn’t the answer,” said Melissa Ching, Staten Island resident and member of New York Communities for Change. “Not only would this pipeline raise my utility bills and make it harder for me and others here to live, it also poses major environmental threats. It’s just not right. Governor Hochul needs to stop the Williams pipeline now and put people before billionaires and fossil fuel executives.”
“As a College of Staten Island student, I am proud to have lived in both Long Island and Staten Island. This pipeline directly harms residents in both,” said Daniel Bayer, chair of NYPIRG’s Student Board of Directors. “Students are the future of New York, and so is renewable energy. Dirty fracked gas is the past, and Governor Hochul must look forward, not behind, and stop dangerous projects like the Williams NESE pipeline.”
Community members warned that pipeline construction would stir up toxic legacy pollution in Raritan Bay, reversing decades of environmental recovery that has brought back seals, dolphins, and whales to local waters.
Background:
- The Williams NESE pipeline would trench through Raritan Bay off Staten Island’s eastern shore.
- National Grid has acknowledged the project would raise bills by ~3.5% across NYC and Long Island, including Staten Island households.
- Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella and more than 100 other officials across party lines have already voiced opposition.
The rally was organized by Food & Water Watch, NYPIRG, New York Communities for Change, Peace Action of Staten Island, Protectors of the Pine Oak Woods, and others.
Staten Islanders rally outside Borough Hall to protest the already-rejected proposal for a fracked gas pipeline. Image Credit – FWW
Staten Islanders rally outside Borough Hall to protest the already-rejected proposal for a fracked gas pipeline. Image Credit – FWW
Banner Image: Staten Islanders rally outside Borough Hall to protest the already-rejected proposal for a fracked gas pipeline. Image Credit – FWW
Citizen Action Of New York
Citizen Action of New York is a grassroots membership organization taking on big issues that are at the center of transforming society by: Ensuring our children have a quality public education no matter their zip code Ending our current system of mass incarceration and establishing a new system of justice Ensuring quality affordable housing for all Fighting for guaranteed quality, affordable health care Taking big money out of politics by creating a fair elections system Aiming to dismantle the historic racist system by promoting racial justice Striving for a more progressive tax system to begin to end the runaway inequality in our state
[…] note: As mentioned in our previous article, the Borough President and many local politicians and community members were hoping that the DEC would do…. There were no substantial changes of note between the project that was denied in 2020 and the […]