New York, NY — Friday marks the conclusion of a years-long fight to stop construction of the Williams Northeast Enhancement Project (NESE), a new fracked gas pipeline that would have been built in New York Harbor along the coast of Staten Island, Coney Island, and the Rockaway Peninsula, to supply gas to National Grid. On April 10th, the pipeline company announced that they would no longer seek federal permits for the project, and let their current permits expire May 3. This victory is the culmination of eight years of advocacy by coalitions in New York and New Jersey that led to repeated state permit denials, including most recently in 2020.

The Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition is calling on Governor Hochul to replicate the decision that New York made when they denied the state permits for the NESE project, and stop National Grid’s latest proposals to expand the amount of fracked gas pumped to NYC and Long Island: the proposed Iroquois Pipeline expansion, currently awaiting a state permit decision, and National Grid’s proposed reinforcement of a decaying liquefied gas (LNG) facility in Brooklyn, currently pending approval by state regulators. Thousands of New Yorkers have filed opposition to the proposals.

Food & Water Watch Senior New York Organizer Laura Shindell said:

“Time and time again, people power wins out over fossil fuels and corporate greed. We are proud to keep the disastrous Williams fracked gas pipeline out of New York City. We call on Governor Hochul to maintain New York’s track record of choosing reason over fossil fuel industry influence. Governor Hochul must direct her DEC to deny permits for National Grid’s fracked gas expansion ‘Plan B,’ the Iroquois Pipeline expansion proposal. The facts remain the same: the buildout of fracked gas infrastructure is unnecessary, dangerous, and wildly unpopular.”

Sane Energy Project Director, Kim Fraczek said, “Today, we celebrate a major victory in our ongoing fight against harmful gas infrastructure. It was 100% the power of community activism that forced Williams Pipeline Co. to formally withdraw its 4th attempt to apply to build a pipeline that would have destroyed the New York Harbor and Rockaway Peninsula. But our work is not done. We call on Governor Hochul to continue this momentum by denying permits for the notorious utility National Grid and its proposals for the Iroquois EXC Pipeline in New York’s beautiful farm country, and its proposed reinforcement of a decaying liquefied gas facility adjacent to low-income housing in Brooklyn. Sustainable energy solutions are available, and the Governor must prove to New Yorkers that she will protect our communities and planet.”

“Certainly, Williams’ decision to end its efforts to build a costly, environmentally destructive, and utterly unnecessary fracked gas pipeline through New Jersey and under the seabed off New York City is worth celebrating,” said Sara Gronim, co-leader of 350Brooklyn. “But the finale of this one fight doesn’t mean that fossil fuel interests now recognize that their businesses threaten the destruction of us all. Williams is pursuing other projects in New Jersey, the Iroquois pipeline system in New York State and Connecticut is trying to expand, the National Grid unit in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island persists in proposing new projects, and National Fuel Gas in western New York is spending money hand over fist to undermine New York State’s transition to renewable energy. Just as we who want a just and a livable future joined together to defeat the Williams pipeline, we will turn back all these efforts to halt our progress.”

“After nearly a decade of tireless opposition, we have collectively succeeded in pressuring the Williams Company to abandon their plans for a fracked gas pipeline off the coasts of New York and New Jersey”, says Saylor Pochan of Surfrider Foundation New York City and Rockaway resident. “As surfers, beach lovers and ocean advocates, we celebrate this huge victory, and reaffirm our commitment to protecting our marine ecosystems and frontline communities. Alongside our allies, we remain steadfast in our resistance against projects that perpetuate a fossil fuel-driven future, particularly in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and upstate and western New York. This victory reinforces our unwavering dedication to combating climate change and in forging a sustainable path forward for generations to come.”

“They told us this billion dollar fracked gas pipeline was inevitable and that it couldn’t be stopped. Bing bong. It’s cooked,” said Pete Sikora, climate campaigns director for New York Communities for Change.