Addabbo to oppose Williams Pipeline

State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., who represents the communities within the Rockaway Peninsula where the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Pipeline would be, will not be supporting the project for several reasons.

“My first concern is for the people who live in the Rockaways and who have valid concerns regarding the project,” Addabbo said. “This pipeline would provide no clear, direct benefit to my constituents, and may actually negatively impact their quality of life. After suffering from Superstorm Sandy, with hundreds of people still not back in their homes more than six years later, I cannot support an initiative that may burden them even further.”

The primary concerns the Senator has are the environmental issues and impact the NESE pipeline would have, both during construction and post-construction. Addabbo believes that entities should retreat from pumping climate-changing gases into the atmosphere and that the construction of the NESE pipeline also has the potential to disrupt marine life, in addition to  the number of toxins that would be exposed and possibly be released into the waters where residents and visitors swim.

The Senator also believes the $926 million cost of the project could be monies better spent on renewable and clean energy initiatives. Pointing to New York’s Clean Energy Standard, which mandates the state receive 50% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the same time frame, Addabbo said, “While I understand that natural gas is a bridge energy source before we fully integrate to cleaner energy forms, it does not mean we have to spend close to a billion dollars on advancing natural gas projects. It seems to me we are moving backwards instead of moving forward environmentally.”

Back in 2010, Addabbo was a major opponent of fracking in New York and the process of hydraulic fracturing of gas, which he believed to be dangerous and a contributor to climate change. “I know of the need for different sources of energy, but I do not believe fracking gas is the answer. The Rockaways are already leading the way in renewable energy with an offshore wind farm project, as New York State aims to power 1.2 million homes with these wind farms by 2030.” Addabbo expressed.

Addabbo concluded, “In the end, after reviewing the many aspects of the NESE pipeline project, I have determined that the negative impacts, cost and environmental direction outweigh any benefits the pipeline may bring. It is because of these reasons that I stand with my constituents in Rockaway in opposing the construction of the NESE pipeline and will continue to work towards addressing the energy needs and efficient practices of our state.”