So much for that green new spiel.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration — facing the heat over Con Edison’s proposed double-digit gas and electric hikes — is stepping up gas production that flies in the face of New York’s controversial green energy law.
The administration approved permits to expand the capacity of the 414-mile Iroquois pipeline and pump more natural gas into New York City and southern Connecticut in a move to maintain adequate supply during the coldest days of the year — and avoid freezeouts.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation approved the permits even though it admitted it’s “inconsistent with and would interfere with the statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission limits” as deviating from the plan to ween the Empire State off fossil fuels sent environmental activists infto a frenzy.
“The natural gas system could fail under certain circumstances,” said John Howard, a former commissioner of the state Public Service Commission, which regulated utilities. “Safety and reliability can’t be compromised.”
The DEC permits approve expansions to the Iroquois pipeline’s compressor stations in Athens, and Dover Plains, both in the Hudson Valley — to boost the gas capacity to Con Ed and National Grid in the city.
A DEC spokesperson called the permits “essential” to maintain the downstate gas supply.
“As a condition of the permits, Iroquois will invest $5 million in mitigation efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions and make investments to reduce environmental burdens within disadvantaged communities, such as a heat pump program and EV charging stations,” the spokesperson said. “This investment is in addition to other measures Iroquois will implement to minimize emissions.”
The permit approval comes with $3.5 million to be invested in a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Fund for projects in the National Grid and Con Edison service areas — and another $1.5 million for programs for electric vehicle charging stations and other environmental measures in the Dover and Athens area.
Still, climate change activists disrupted a PSC meeting last week to protest the gas supply expansion, as flouting the state’s green energy goals and harmful to the environment and public health.
“The Iroquois Pipeline, one of New York’s most notorious fossil fuel projects, transports fracked gas from the Canadian border downstate into New York City,” the Sane Energy Project said in a statement. “Hochul’s approval will double two gas compressor stations in Greene and Dutchess counties despite emitting toxic chemicals linked to respiratory diseases, reproductive issues, and cancer.”
Hochul’s office claimed the ramping up does not conflict with her clean energy goals.
“From signing the Climate Superfund Act to investing $1 billion in clean energy projects in this year’s budget, Governor Hochul has demonstrated a clear commitment to an affordable and reliable transition to a clean energy economy,” said spokesman Paul DeMichele. “Projects like this one are thoroughly evaluated to advance that goal while also ensuring the safety and reliability of our energy distribution systems.’
National Grid/KeySpan said natural gas provides more than 70% of New York’s heat energy while Con Ed says 63% of its electricity through its lines is generated by gas.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 requires the state and its energy producers and consumers to ween off fossil fuels by slashing gas emissions by 40% by 2030 with the goal of achieving 100% zero-carbon-emission electricity by 2040.
The green governor and the Democratic-led legislature have also banned gas stoves, furnaces and propane heating in new buildings and, in December, she extended the state’s fracking ban by prohibiting a new technique to use carbon dioxide to extract natural gas.
But the DEC this time sided with a priority of making sure there’s enough gas delivered during an arctic cold spell — so that the heat stays on and customers don’t freeze as was almost the case in 2022, when Winter Storm Elliott had city residents facing bone-chilling 10 degree temperatures.
Con Edison and National Grid “were barely able to provide adequate supply during Winter Storm Elliot until the temperatures increased, and weather improved,” a PSC report backing the expansion revealed.
“Had the weather been colder, the utilities would likely have been unable to avoid thousands and potentially millions of gas outages,” said the report. “The Winter Storm Elliott event thus demonstrates the risks associated with over-reliance on CNG [compressed natural gas].”
The PSC emphasized the need to diversify and expand the utilities’ gas supply resources into the downstate region to maintain safety and reliability, even as “state and local actions reduce demand pressures on the system over time.”
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a report in 2023 recommending the need for New York and other Northeast to bolster their gas energy infrastructure.
The action comes amid outrage over Con Edison’s request to jack up electric bills by 11.4% and send gas bills soaring 13.3% for its 3.6 million customers.
ConEd’s proposed rate hikes would cost some inflation-weary New Yorkers $1,848 more per year compared to five years ago, if approved.
