Eric Wood is Senior Environmental Program Coordinator at NYPIRG (New York Public Interest Research Group)
On February 7, 202, Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. was issued state permits to construct and operate natural gas transmission facilities in New York and Connecticut as part of its existing system. The project is designed to provide 125,000 dekatherms of gas per day of incremental firm transportation service for NYC and Long Island.
Continued Expansion of Gas Impacts Ratepayers and Residents
While we need to heat our homes, numerous studies have found that polluting industries, like Iroquois Gas, tend to disproportionately be located in low-income and minority-majority communities, commonly known as “environmental justice communities” or “Disadvantaged Communities”. Low income communities and communities of color throughout the state have been disproportionately burdened by pipelines, power plants and compressor stations. Athens is in a Disadvantaged Community; Dover is about a tenth of a mile from a Disadvantaged Community. Historically these communities have borne the brunt of environmental hazards and the Iroquois compressors will not put an end to the exposures.
The Iroquois ExC Project will result in additional greenhouse gas emissions…NYSDEC issued ASF permits for the Iroquois ExC Project compressor stations…despite any inconsistency with or interference with the attainment of the Statewide greenhouse gas emission limits established in article 75 of the Environmental Conservation Law Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“CLCPA”)
Ratepayers will pay for the expansion
NYPIRG is dismayed by the Governor’s decision to approve the required permits for the Iroquois ExC Compressor Station expansion project. This approval flies in the face of the Climate Act. By permitting a dramatic increase in the amount of fossil fuels that will flow through our state, our communities will experience more air and noise pollution, further accelerating climate damages. The people of Athens, Dover, and all New Yorkers, deserve much better.
Our State Senate Leadership has a real opportunity this session to protect New Yorkers from irresponsible decisions made by the executive branches of both our state and federal governments. For example, the Senate could include The Bucks for Boilers Act (S.3476) in this year’s state budget, which would provide upfront money to low-moderate income New Yorkers to modernize our homes, while making them safer and more energy efficient, rather than letting corporate interests continue to degrade our environment and poison our homes.
More Renewables, Less Oil and Gas
We are at a crossroads in the fight against climate change. We need to stop expanding fossil fuel infrastructure, begin replacing it, and move toward a clean green energy future that relies on less polluting fuel sources than gas and oil.
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