Albany, NY — Today, on the eve of the New York fracking ban’s 10 year anniversary, local electeds and activists delivered a letter from 105 climate and community organizations calling on Governor Hochul to stop the proposed Iroquois Pipeline expansion. At a rally outside the War Room at the NYS Capitol Building, representatives from eight impacted municipalities also delivered resolutions calling on the Governor to stop the project. Last year, more than 60 elected officials wrote to Governor Hochul with the same demand. A looming decision on the project, which has garnered thousands of public comments in opposition, is long overdue.

Food & Water Watch Hudson Valley Organizer Emily Skydel said:

“It could not be more clear that New Yorkers are opposed to the dangerous Iroquois Pipeline expansion. This last ditch fossil fuel boondoggle would run afoul of our Climate Act while endangering Hudson Valley communities. With incoming President Trump poised to pursue a reckless pro-fossil fuel agenda, Governor Hochul must make clear that New York is committed to moving off dirty fracked gas. Governor Hochul must deny the Iroquois Pipeline expansion now.”

The proposed expansion would increase fracked gas use downstate, expand noisy, toxic compressor stations in Athens and Dover, and double the aging pipeline’s pressure through the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and under the Long Island Sound. Advocates and elected officials have routinely criticized the expansion as a threat to public health, environmental justice and the climate.

“Our region’s ability to join the ‘green energy future’ that works for working families — that life worth living we’ve been promised by REV many many years ago, and more recently by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act aka the CLCPA — depends upon stopping the Iroquois pipeline buildout, and halting all fossil fuel activity and infrastructure immediately. The proposed pipeline is in clear violation of the CLCPA as set forth by state law and thus the state’s environmental and health priorities. Governor Hochul has a moral, environmental, health, and social justice imperative to deny the proposed pipeline,” said Alex Wojcik Deputy Mayor of New Paltz. “Climate change is real. It’s happening now, it’s not getting any better, and human activity as embodied in the fossil fuel industry is at the heart of the problem. We’ve been at a crossroads for some time now, and while we probably can’t ‘save the world,’ we can save our own lives and those of our children — if and only if we look the fossil fuel industry in the eye and say NO MORE PIPELINES!”

“The Pipeline doesn’t run through Stanford, but our air, soil, and water are being put in jeopardy all the same as Dover’s and Athens’. New York State needs to uphold its obligations to its residents and a pipeline is no way to do so. This is no time to be playing ‘will-I-won’t-I’, it is time to move forward with our ecologically minded goals,” said Teddy Secor, Town of Stanford Board member.

“The dangers and health risks of this project, which violates the Climate Leadership and Community Protection act passed in 2019 to tackle the climate crisis by moving New York State off fossil fuels, are too numerous to list. And, the Town of Poughkeepsie is unique in being the only municipality that gets its drinking water from the Hudson River to pass a resolution on this issue thus far. The proposed pipeline expansion would start with the Athens compressor right on the river before it crosses the water from Athens to Hudson, with potential effects on drinking water for thousands of residents along the Hudson. I urge our neighbors along the river to follow our example,” said Susan Karnes Hecht, Town of Poughkeepsie Climate Smart Task Force Chair.

“It’ll be ten years Dec. 17 since Cuomo banned fracking, earning the climate leader moniker. But NYS uses 12% more natural gas now than it did! It’s time Hochul becomes the climate leader she claims to be by stopping all fracked gas projects like the Iroquois ExC project. Hochul must tell the DEC to deny the air permits. It’s time to stop the gas, not let it expand,” said Mary Finneran, co-chair of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Gas Action Team.

“We are in the era of our own extinction. No reasonable person would ever consider expanding the use of natural gas right now. Governor Hochul should immediately reject the expansion of the Iroquois pipeline and compressor system. We shouldn’t even have to ask,” said Dave Publow, Community Organizer in Troy, NY.

Amy Kletter, Ulster Activists said: “We in New Paltz want to see strong, immediate action to stall and hopefully ameliorate the effects of Climate Change before it’s too late. New York passed what is considered a groundbreaking climate law, but now we need to see follow through on that law. Yes, New York banned the process of fracking, but we did not ban the transport and use of fracked gas. It’s time we did, and put our money and expertise into developing renewable energy and its implementation!  Deny the permit, stop the use of fracked gas, promote renewable energy and do it today!”

A recording of today’s event is available here.