New York, NY (August 9, 2025) — More than 500 New Yorkers marched across the Brooklyn Bridge calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to reject three fracked gas pipelines — including two previously denied by the state: the Williams NESE and Constitution projects. The protest, organized by more than 20 climate and environmental groups, featured remarks from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado.

The demonstration comes amid rapidly growing public concern that Hochul is caving to Trump’s demands that she reverse New York state’s previous decisions denying these projects permits. So far, Hochul has fast-tracked a truncated permitting process for the NESE project, with limited public comment and no hearings. A third proposal — Enbridge’s Project Maple pipeline expansion — is also under consideration.

These projects will threaten clean water, endanger frontline communities, and violate New York’s climate law. New gas pipelines also fly in the face of scientific consensus: phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to prevent increasingly catastrophic climate disasters. The Williams NESE project alone would increase climate-heating pollution annually by an estimated 8 million tons.

Massive pipeline projects will also lead to major increases in New Yorker’s utility bills. According to National Grid itself — Williams’ utility partner on the NESE project — utility bills would rise by 3.5% from just that project alone, if it is approved. That would pile an additional $150 a year onto already unaffordable utility bills, with National Grid planning yet another rate hike proposal in early 2026. Overbuilt gas infrastructure has already driven an estimated $179 billion in unnecessary investment nationwide, and critics say these pipelines would leave New Yorkers stuck with the bill for dangerous fossil fuel assets that will soon become obsolete.

“These pipelines endanger the environment and New Yorkers,” said New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. “They also fly in the face of New York’s nation-leading climate law, while driving up utility bills, all to serve the interests of fossil fuel executives. Governor Hochul should not be working in lockstep with Donald Trump to revive them — she should be standing with New Yorkers to stop them.”

“New York’s climate laws protect our planet’s future, our communities’ health, and our local economy,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “State leaders should not let backroom deals with the Trump administration undermine critical science-based regulations. The DEC must deny all permits for the costly, risky NESE pipeline — a project completely misaligned with our energy goals — and instead commit to a just transition for every New Yorker.”

“New Yorkers have already defeated these dangerous pipelines once — and we’re not about to let them come back under Trump’s orders,” said Laura Shindell, New York State Director at Food & Water Watch. “Reviving the NESE and Constitution projects would be a massive handout to corporate polluters and a betrayal of New York’s climate promises. These pipelines threaten our water, our communities, and our wallets. Governor Hochul needs to stand up to Trump, stand with everyday New Yorkers, and slam the door shut on these expensive, unnecessary fossil fuel projects.”

“New York families oppose these costly, dangerous gas pipelines,” said Liat Olenick, lead organizer with Climate Families NYC.“The pipelines will worsen the climate crisis, poison our air and water and threaten the health of our children, while also increasing costs for working parents. Families want Governor Hochul to stand up to Trump and fight for kids, not polluters.”

“This is not the future New Yorkers are working towards,” said Sara Gronim, co-leader of 350Brooklyn. “We want a New York that is affordable, not one that lines the pockets of utility executives and fossil fuel barons. Why would we want to pay for the dirty, expensive energy of past centuries? We want a safe, healthy New York, powered by the full array of renewable energy sources. We have the know-how to go forward and that’s where we want to go.”

“National Grid is running another scam, cooking the books on gas demand to push costly, dirty pipelines like the Williams NESE project,” said Kim Fraczek, Director of Sane Energy Project. “Governor Hochul already gave them the green light to expand the aging Iroquois pipeline, showing a disturbing willingness to ignore inflated data and side with polluters over the people. If she does it again, New Yorkers in NYC and Long Island will be stuck footing the bill for a pipeline we don’t need, one that only serves corporate profits and AI data centers. We know renewable energy is cheaper, safer, and aligned with our climate laws. This isn’t climate leadership, it’s a betrayal of climate justice and a fair, affordable energy future.”

“Governor Hochul has made a deal with Trump. By fastracking, the previously blocked Williams-NESE fracked gas pipeline, Governor Hochul is trading away our generation’s future, trading away any semblance of climate action, and trading away our city’s air and water,” said Keanu Arpels-Josiah, 20, Lead Organizer with Fridays For Future NYC. “The pipeline proposal is a proposal to poison our communities and a proposal to destroy our future.”

“Mothers Out Front members in New York are speaking out because these dangerous gas pipelines put our children’s health and future at risk,” said Melissa Thomas, Senior Organizer at Mothers Out Front. “Parents want clean air, safe water, and a livable climate — not higher bills and decades more dependence on fossil fuels. Governor Hochul should reject these projects and choose a future powered by clean, affordable energy.”

“The science was clear when the NYS Department of Conservation rejected permits for these pipeline projects years ago, and it is still clear: Air contamination, risks to wetlands and waterways, leaks, and explosions follow fracked gas pipelines wherever they go,” said Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., co-founder of Concerned Health Professionals of New York. “New York State’s health professionals stand steadfastly against new fracked gas pipelines and the toxic compressor stations that service them.”

“I already pay way too much in utilities, and as a Rockaways resident, I’ve seen the damage that climate change did when hurricane Sandy hit and I had to evacuate my home. Hochul should stand up to Trump, not get in bed with him for this super-polluting ripoff,” said Janet Taylor, Rockaways resident and New York Communities for Change member. “The NESE pipeline would terminate in the Rockaways, where neighborhood residents are organizing to once again get the state to deny the project permits.”