Albany, NY — Today, elected officials and advocates rallied in the NYS Capitol Building “War Room” against a proposed expansion of the Iroquois Pipeline, delivering over 8,000 comments calling on Governor Hochul to deny state permits for the fracked gas expansion project.

At issue in the comment period, which closed April 29, is whether the project was necessary to meet future energy demand. Advocates and elected officials roundly criticized the expansion as unnecessary in the face of numerous emissions reductions mandates from the Climate Act to gas bans that mandate a transition off fossil fuels, and as a threat to public health, environmental justice and the climate.

Food & Water Watch Senior Hudson Valley Organizer Emily Skydel said:

“It is abundantly clear that the Iroquois Pipeline Company’s fracked gas expansion aims are unwanted and unnecessary. New York has strong climate laws on the books, from our state Climate Act to gas bans, and New York City’s Local Law 97. Governor Hochul must give these landmark laws teeth and use them to deny the proposed Iroquois Pipeline expansion.”

The Iroquois Pipeline Company applied for an Article 19 State Air Facility Permit to expand noisy, toxic compressor stations in Dover and Athens in order to substantially increase the amount of fracked gas pumped to New York City and Long Island. 

The rally comes after the close of a public comment period on the proposal, where more than 5,000 comments were submitted in opposition to the pipeline expansion, and days after the company behind the proposed Williams Pipeline walked away from the project, after nearly a decade of advocacy against the fracked gas project.

Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, “Building new fracked gas infrastructure in 2024 is reckless, wrong and totally contrary to meeting our urgent climate goals. We don’t want it and we don’t need it. National Grid and Con Ed have historically lied about gas demand, all to make a profit at the expense of our health and our futures. I stand in solidarity with residents and elected officials from the Hudson and Harlem valleys, and join their call on Governor Hochul to deny expansion permits to the Iroquois pipeline.”

“The expansion of gas pipelines with large compressor stations is not without potential risks, and community members are obviously—and rightfully—concerned,” said Senator Pete Harckham, Environmental Conservation Committee Chair. “Our real focus should be on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels as we transition to clean energy.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Our communities cannot be sacrificed for the fleeting gains of a dangerous, outdated, fracked gas energy system. New York is the architect of Climate progress, and at a time when we must be shifting as quickly as possible to 100% renewable energy, this fracked gas expansion project goes against the goals and requirements of our CLCPA. I thank all the local advocates in Athens and Dover who brought this issue directly to my office for their leadership in fighting for the clean energy future we need.”

“The proposed expansion of the Iroquois Pipeline poses significant environmental and health risks to our Hudson Valley region, and I stand with my partners in state and local government in support of a greener, cleaner energy future for New York State,” said Assembly Member Didi Barrett, Chair of the Assembly’s Energy Committee. “I have been fighting these battles since before I was elected to the Assembly. I proudly fought to ban fracking in New York State, and led the charge to stop oil barge anchorage sites on the Hudson River. As a longtime advocate for our environment and our communities, I urge Governor Hochul to listen to the local opposition to this proposal.” 

Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell said, “Creating our future means learning from the past’s mistakes, not repeating them. The Iroquois Pipeline Expansion isn’t just a threat to our environment—it directly endangers the safety and well-being of the Hudson and Harlem Valley communities. This project is a regression in our crucial fight against climate change. Together, we must advance and strengthen our resolve for a resilient, fossil-free New York.”

“With our nation-leading climate laws, New York should not be permitting the Iroquois fracked gas expansion,” said State Senator Lea Webb. “I join my colleagues in urging Governor Hochul to stand up for these communities who have spoken out against this project, concerned for the health and safety of their families. We must continue to do everything we can to protect our environment and transition to renewable resources.”

Assembly Member Dana Levenberg said: “New York State has set lofty climate goals that we will not reach if we do not summon the fortitude to say no to projects like the Iroquois Pipeline. It would be easy to say yes to the continued expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, because we’ve been doing it for decades. But it would be wrong. It is imperative that in this moment, we resolve to stand by our climate commitments, say no to this pipeline, and say yes to more projects that generate the renewable energy we want and need.”

“The proposed expansion of the Iroquois Pipeline would take New York backward at a moment when we need bold, forward-thinking climate action,” said Claire Cousin, Columbia County Supervisor and candidate for State Assembly. “The folks I represent, who will be affected by this proposal, are Black and Brown communities that have stood firmly and clearly in opposition to the expansion. I stand with them and call on Governor Hochul to deny permits for this harmful project.” 

“Concerned Health Professionals of New York is strongly opposed to expanding fracked gas infrastructure in our densely populated state by doubling the pressure inside an elderly pipeline whose very name reveals its retrograde vintage,” said biologist and CHPNY co-founder Sandra Steingraber. “It’s dangerous, it’s dumb, it fills disadvantaged communities with toxic emissions, and it puts New York’s children at risk.”

“For over four years we’ve been saying that the Iroquois ExC would be unsafe and unhealthy. They say it’s needed. In four years no shortage has been noted and with increased warming none will be. Deny the ExC project air permits. The risk doesn’t warrant the unneeded need,” said Mary Finneran, Gas Action Team of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club.

“With Climate Chaos intensifying every passing day it is time our elected officials take necessary steps to protect our health, safety and future. We need Gov. Hochul to stand up to the lobbyists who want to push through the Iroquois ExC project which flaunts our NYS climate protection legislation. New Yorkers don’t want or need this project. Let’s put people over profits and make sure the DEC denies air permits to these greedy developers,” said Cari Gardner, New York Progressive Action Network.

A recording of the event is available here.