Constitution Pipeline is a key next common-sense step for New York’s energy future
New Yorkers have already seen what focused leadership can accomplish. In this year’s state budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature delivered important reforms to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act that put affordability at the center of New York’s energy future while keeping the state on a path toward lower emissions. It was a significant achievement that recognizes what families and employers across our state have been saying for months: our energy policies must work not only for the environment, but also for the people who pay the bills.
Those reforms were an important first step, but the effort to provide the additional energy capacity we need to ensure reliability and long-term affordability for utility bills. The state needs permit reform to make new projects quicker to complete, and we need to consider repowering closed power plants while we expand nuclear generation and renewable energy.
This “all-of-the-above” approach should also include advancing the Constitution Pipeline, which is another practical, common-sense way to build on our progress. It will help make energy more affordable, strengthen reliability, support continued economic growth and complement the state’s long-term clean energy goals.
The need could not be clearer.
More than two million New York households already struggle with high energy costs. Small businesses, manufacturers, nonprofits and working families continue to absorb steep increases in electricity and heating bills. During this summer’s heat wave, electricity demand climbed to near-record levels, prompting the New York Independent System Operator to issue energy alerts and urge conservation. Those warnings reinforced what NYISO has been saying for years: rising demand, retiring power plants and delays in bringing new resources online are creating growing reliability challenges for the state’s electric grid.
Meeting those challenges requires an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy — one that continues investing in renewable energy while ensuring New Yorkers have access to affordable, reliable fuel when they need it most. That has been Gov. Hochul’s approach, and it is the right one.
Constitution Pipeline fits squarely within that strategy.
Independent analysis by Daymark Energy Advisors estimates the project would save New York electric customers approximately $3 billion by easing the natural gas constraints that drive up electricity prices, particularly during periods of peak demand. The study also concludes the project would reduce costly winter price spikes, improve grid reliability and help support the continued growth of renewable energy by ensuring dependable fuel is available when wind and solar generation cannot meet demand.
A separate analysis by S&P Global reaches a similar conclusion. It estimates Constitution Pipeline could generate approximately $4.7 billion in energy savings for New Yorkers over its first 15 years of operation while supporting thousands of construction jobs and billions of dollars in additional economic activity across the Northeast.
Those findings reinforce what many business leaders, local officials and energy experts have understood for years: expanding critical energy infrastructure is not at odds with New York’s climate goals. It is an essential part of achieving them responsibly. Natural gas has already helped reduce emissions by replacing higher-emission fuels, and it continues to play an important role in maintaining reliability as the state builds more renewable generation and modernizes its electric grid.
The conversation about energy should never be framed as a choice between affordability and sustainability. New Yorkers deserve both. Families deserve utility bills they can afford. Employers deserve the confidence that reliable energy will be available when they invest and create jobs. And our state deserves an energy strategy that is practical enough to support continued economic growth while moving steadily toward a cleaner future.
Gov. Hochul and the Legislature took an important step this year by making affordability a central part of New York’s energy policy. Along with permit reform and smartly repowering closed plants, advancing Constitution Pipeline is a logical next step. It is a practical investment that will help lower costs, strengthen reliability and keep New York moving forward with the balanced, all-of-the-above energy strategy our economy and our communities need.
Duffy and Diaz Jr. are co-chairs of Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future
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