By: Susan Arbetter

Over the past few years, New York state has repeatedly rejected a couple of big gas pipeline projects including the Constitution pipeline and the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE). Both were denied water quality permits by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

One of the NESE project’s denials reads, “The Department denies the 2019 WQC Application based on Transco’s inability to demonstrate the Project’s compliance with all applicable water quality standards.”

According to The New York Times, after the Trump administration threatened a wind power project run by Equinor off the coast of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would work with Trump.

The conversations with the president bore fruit; the wind power project continues to operate.

“I want to thank President Trump for his willingness to work with me to save the 1,500 good paying union jobs that were on the line and helping get this essential project back on track,” Hochul said in a statement dated May 19.

But the conversations with Trump have led to loud whispers of a wind power-for-pipeline deal between the governor and the president, though governor has denied it.

A little over a week after the Trump administration withdrew its opposition to the wind project, the Williams Companies which now owns both pipelines, formally reapplied for new water quality permits.

Environmental groups have expressed anger over the revived pipelines, as well as the pace with which the DEC is reviewing NESE’s water quality permit. The Constitution pipeline’s application remains incomplete.

Read the full article here: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2025/09/04/new-york-lt–gov–delgado-slams-hochul-over-revived-pipelines