ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Plans to revive two controversial natural gas pipelines previously blocked in New York renewed the debate between fossil fuelers, utilities, state officials, and environmentalists. Potentially at issue are the Constitution and Northeast Supply Enhancement pipelines, long-defeated projects that could move forward with support from the Trump administration and mixed signals from Governor Kathy Hochul.

This follows talks between Hochul and President Donald Trump that also resulted in federal reapproval for the Empire Wind project. In a May 19 statement on Trump greenlighting the offshore wind farm, Hochul said she “reaffirmed that New York will work with the Administration and private entities on new energy projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law.”

Indeed, “They will have to follow our laws,” Hochul said on Thursday of any company wanting to build pipelines or other energy projects in New York. “But we can look at this expansively, also consider the benefits at a time when energy prices are through the roof.”

In response, environmental groups called on Hochul to oppose the pipelines. They pointed out that New York previously stopped both pipelines by denying necessary Clean Water Act permits.

Food & Water Watch said the Constitution and NESE pipelines “posed serious threats to our environment, climate, and communities across the state,” and told Hochul to reject any new applications for those projects. Laura Shindell, New York State Director at FWW, called reviving the Constitution Pipeline a “reckless and unacceptable capitulation to President Trump and the polluting fossil fuel interests backing him.”

Mark Izeman, senior strategist and attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, warned that reviving either pipeline “will once again be met with stiff and deep resistance” and could lead to prolonged legal battles. He said the pipelines would increase dependence on fossil fuels.

And the New York Public Interest Research Group pointed out that the Constitution pipeline was denied under the Clean Water Act and that the decision was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals and left in place by the U.S. Supreme Court. Eric Wood, Senior Environmental Program Coordinator for NYPIRG, urged Hochul to “stand strong with the [Department of Environmental Conservation] and the Supreme Court in prioritizing the health and safety of her constituents.”

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based pipeline operator Williams Companies filed paperwork with federal regulators in May to restart both projects, which would carry fracked gas from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale into New York and New England, as first reported by The New York Times. The Constitution pipeline would span over 100 miles from northeast Pennsylvania to Albany, while NESE would run mostly underwater between New Jersey and New York City.

Energy officials and industry advocates argue the pipelines could lower utility bills in the region where natural gas prices are among the highest in the country. A recent S&P Global study, as reported by the New York Times, found that more pipelines could cut natural gas prices in the Northeast by 20% to 30%.

Natural gas currently supplies nearly half of all electricity in New York. In their public filing, Williams said the proposed pipelines are “essential to address persistent natural gas supply constraints in the Northeast, constraints that have led to higher energy costs for consumers and increased reliance on higher-emission fuels like fuel oil.” The company told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it hopes to begin operating NESE by late 2027, according to the Times.

The revival of the pipeline projects, estimated to cost nearly $1 billion each, faces hurdles, including securing enough long-term customers to finance construction and potential legal challenges. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has made expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure a top priority.

The governor’s office denied making any specific deal on pipelines in exchange for the wind project’s federal reapproval. But U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tweeted that Hochul signaled a “willingness to move forward on critical pipeline capacity.”

The renewed debate coincides with the New York State Senate advancing the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act, sweeping reform targeting energy costs and gas system expansion. The State Senate Rules Committee just cleared the bill, which supporters say would modernize outdated utility laws and promote cleaner fuel sources by ending a requirement that utilities supply gas to new customers and removing subsidies for new gas hookups.

Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate with Earthjustice, said, “The NY HEAT Act is the only policy before Albany lawmakers to put an end to out-of-control utility rate hikes while standing up to the Trump administration gutting energy affordability and climate programs.”

The Climate Can’t Wait coalition has also pushed for the NY HEAT Act and other climate bills, citing concerns about federal actions supporting fossil fuel projects, including “previously stopped gas pipelines, including the Constitution pipeline in New York.”

As of early 2025, more than 1.2 million New York households were behind on utility bills, collectively owing nearly $1.8 billion. The nonprofit AGREE reported that every major gas utility in the state has raised heating costs since 2022. For example, average monthly gas bills rose by $48 for Con Edison customers and $62 for National Grid customers in New York City.

Supporters say the HEAT Act would save struggling households an average of $136 monthly and cut billions in long-term fossil fuel infrastructure costs. A Siena poll found that 58% of New Yorkers surveyed support the bill, including majorities across party lines, regions, and income levels.

Opposition to the NY HEAT Act has come from those and other utility companies, including National Fuel Gas, the only major utility in the state that engages in fracking. The Alliance for a Green Economy, promoting a report from the think tank Switchbox, accused National Fuel of generating almost 90% “of its profits from fracking-related businesses in Pennsylvania rather than delivering energy to New York households.”

While it serves a relatively small portion of New York customers, it raised residential delivery rates by 40% over three years and plans to invest $362 million in new gas infrastructure. As of August 2024, more than 54,000 National Fuel customers were in arrears and facing shutoffs. The report identified National Fuel as one of the top 25 fracking companies nationwide.

Jessica Azulay, executive director of Alliance for a Green Economy, said, “This report makes it obvious why National Fuel is opposing this transition, in particular why they are opposing the NY HEAT Act, which will reduce our reliance on the product they sell.”

Reiterating her commitment to climate goals on Thursday, Hochul said she was focused on New York City’s energy demands and open to exploring “all the options that could work for New Yorkers.” Facing reelection next year, she said, “I have to look at this in a different lens and will continue being committed to our climate goals. I believe in them, but also the realization that we need to be more open-minded.”

Hochul added, “I am open to nuclear. That may be a radical thought to people, but I need to power this state, take the economic burden and the cost off my citizens and my residents, but also be able to prepare for the innovation and the jobs that are coming here.”

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