Photo Credit: Cata Romo
New York, NY — Today, dozens of New Yorkers showed up en masse outside a New York City Council meeting to urge City Council members to oppose the proposed Williams fracked gas pipeline, a dangerous pipeline that would transport fracked gas under the New York Harbor, endangering communities, threatening beaches and water, and maintaining New York’s addiction to dirty fossil fuels.
This comes the day before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is scheduled to release its final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the pipeline. From there, the decision to deny or allow the fossil fuel project is up to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Williams Transco wants to build the unnecessary 23-mile fracked gas pipeline through New York Harbor past Staten Island and the Rockaways, the very communities most devastated by and still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. The pipeline would be part of a bigger NorthEast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project intended to transport gas from Lancaster County, PA across New Jersey and into the New York City region. The pipeline would lock in gas use in New York City for decades, running counter to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To date, nearly 12,000 people have signed a petition calling on Governor Cuomo to oppose the pipeline. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer announced his opposition to the Williams pipeline last fall.
Photo Credit: Sane Energy Project
QUOTE SHEET:
Cata Romo, Fossil Free New York Organizer with 350.org, said: “Governor Cuomo has committed to a Green New Deal for New York, yet the Williams pipeline threatens his integrity to meaningfully address the climate crisis. The Williams pipeline is unconscionable in this political and environmental moment. We need to hold our elected officials accountable to take necessary steps to ensure a safe thriving fossil free New York for all New Yorkers. Williams has a horrendous safety track record, and we need action. Cuomo: stop the Williams pipeline today.”
Patrick Houston, Climate & Inequality Organizer with New York Communities for Change, said: “The Rockaways experienced some of the worst of the devastation caused by climate change fueled Superstorm Sandy. The gas pipeline proposed by the multi-million dollar Williams Company, would be salt in the wounds to NYCC members in the Rockaways, who continue to experience the brunt of extreme weather caused by burning gas and other fossil fuels. We urge Governor Cuomo to protect New Yorkers on the frontlines of the crisis, and deny the Williams pipeline.”
Lee Ziesche, Sane Energy Project, said: “Climate science is telling us we need to rapidly move New York City off of fracked gas for heating and power. Building the Williams NESE fracked gas pipeline means spending nearly a billion dollars to go in the wrong direction, locking our city into decades more of dirty fossil fuel use instead of investing in the renewable heating options we need. If Governor Cuomo is serious about leading the nation on climate action he must stop the Williams fracked gas pipeline for good.”
Eric Weltman, a Brooklyn-based organizer with Food & Water Watch, said: “The Williams pipeline is the first real test of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to being a climate leader. Governor Cuomo can’t call himself a climate leader if doesn’t stop the Williams pipeline, a project that would deepen New York’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels.”
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The Stop the Williams Pipeline NY (NESE Pipeline) campaign is 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, and more.
Contact: Lindsay Meiman, [email protected], (347) 460-9082