Albany, NY — According to recent reporting, gas companies behind the long-defeated Constitution and Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipelines are preparing to revive the projects following talks between former President Trump and Governor Hochul. In response, environmental and community organizations across New York are urging Governor Hochul to stand firm and reject any attempt to bring the pipelines back. Both projects were denied years ago due to the significant threats they posed to water quality and the developers’ failure to meet New York’s clean water standards.

The state’s denial of a water quality permit for the Constitution Pipeline was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court later declined to hear the developers’ appeal. In short, New York rejected the pipeline due to serious water quality concerns—and that decision has been repeatedly upheld in court.

New Yorkers are now counting on Governor Hochul to uphold the state’s prior rejection of these dangerous pipeline projects and protect our drinking water, environment, and health.

“Governor Hochul must make it absolutely clear that New York will not revive the Williams Constitution or NESE pipelines under any circumstances,” said Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch. “These projects were defeated because they posed serious threats to our environment, climate, and communities across the state, and nothing about that has changed. New Yorkers have shown before that we’ll stand up against powerful fossil fuel interests — and if needed, we’ll show it again. But right now, Hochul has the chance to do the right thing and shut the door on these reckless projects before they go any further.”

“Seeking to revive either the Constitution or NESE pipeline will once again be met with stiff and deep resistance in the region – and would inevitably end up in protracted legal battles,” said Mark Izeman, Senior Strategist of Environmental Health and Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “These ill-considered pipelines are Exhibit A in what we should not do if we want clean water and healthy communities. And they will only make us more dependent on fossil fuels at a time when we need to accelerate the deployment of solar, wind, and other cleaner and cheaper sources of energy.”

“The Supreme Court upheld the decision made by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to protect New York’s public health and water quality by denying permission to build the Constitution Pipeline,” said Eric Wood, Senior Environmental Program Coordinator for NYPIRG. “Governor Hochul must stand strong with the DEC and the Supreme Court in prioritizing the health and safety of her constituents by ensuring that construction of the Constitution and NESE pipelines are not permitted.”

Julia Walsh, Director of Frack Action, said, “Trump doesn’t care about our drinking water or environment, but New Yorkers do. We’re calling on Governor Hochul to stand up to Trump’s outrageous attempts to bully the gas industry’s disastrous pipelines through our communities and make it clear that New York State’s denial of the Constitution Pipeline and Northeast Supply Enhancement will stand firm.”

Ramsay Adams, Executive Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper, said, “Governor Hochul must stand up for New York’s drinking water and environment by continuing to deny permits for dirty and dangerous pipelines. Trump and the gas industry may not care about our water or communities, but New Yorkers do, and New Yorkers can lead our country forward by standing firm against erratic decision making and profit-driven policies.”

Background: These pipelines are directly at odds with New York’s commitments to water protection, environmental health, and climate action. An overwhelming movement of New Yorkers spoke out against them — and remains firmly opposed today.