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Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Inbox: NYPA and Cornell are showing off this mobile battery unit, which could provide an alternative to diesel generators.

Looks a lot bigger than your standard generator but it also packs a lot of energy — enough to power a stadium concert, or an average NY home for about a week

The mobile energy storage system picture, Viridi’s RSP150, is an 8.5-foot trailer-mounted, lithium-ion unit that can provide 30kW of power for approximately five hours.

November 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

One of the most shocking environmental investigations I’ve read in a long time. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

To understand the extent of Ogijo’s contamination, consider what happened more than a decade ago in Vernon, Calif., the site of one of the worst cases of lead pollution in modern American history. Soil testing around a recycling plant revealed high lead levels, including at a nearby preschool. Officials called the area an environmental disaster. The factory closed. The cleanup continues today.

Soil at the California preschool contained lead at 95 parts per million.

In Ogijo, soil at one school had more than 1,900 parts per million.

November 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

⚠️ Breaking: Enviro groups sue NY and NJ over NESE pipeline approvals, in three parallel suits before the US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

They cite regulators’ previous, repeated decisions rejecting the pipeline.

No. _________________
_______________________________________________
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
________________________________________________
NY/NJ BAYKEEPER, FOOD & WATER WATCH, NATURAL
RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, PROTECTORS OF PINE OAK
WOODS, SIERRA CLUB, AND SURFRIDER FOUNDATION
Petitioners,
v.
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION; AMANDA LEFTON, COMMISSIONER, NEW
YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION,
Respondents.
_______________________________________________
PETITION FOR REVIEW
_______________________________________________
Moneen Nasmith
Susan J. Kraham
EARTHJUSTICE
48 Wall Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10005
212-845-7384
mnasmith@earthjustice.org
skraham@earthjustice.org
Ann Jaworski
E ARTHJUSTICE
311 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60606
773-245-0837
ajaworski@earthjustice.org
Counsel for Petitioners NY/NJ Baykeeper, Food & Water Watch,
Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, Sierra Club, and Surfrider Foundation

No. _________________
_______________________________________________
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
________________________________________________
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, INC.,
Petitioner,
v.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION; SHAWN M. LATOURETTE, COMMISSIONER, NEW
JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
Respondents.
PETITION FOR REVIEW
Jared E. Knicley Jackson Garrity
Natural Resources Defense Council Natural Resources Defense Council
1152 15th Street NW, Suite 300 20 N Wacker Drive, Suite 1600
Washington, DC 20005 Chicago, IL 60606
(202) 513-6242 (312) 995-5909
jknicley@nrdc.org jgarrity@nrdc.org
Mark A. Izeman
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10011
(212) 727-4453
mizeman@nrdc.org
Counsel for Petitioner Natural Resources Defense Council
Dated: November 18, 2025

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
NY/NJ BAYKEEPER, PRINCETON
MANOR HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION, CENTRAL JERSEY
SAFE ENERGY COALITION, FOOD &
WATER WATCH, NEW JERSEY
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS
EDUCATION FUND, and SIERRA
CLUB,
Petitioners,
v.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION and
SHAWN M. LATOURETTE, in his official
capacity as Commissioner of the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection,
Respondents.
Case No. __________
PETITION FOR REVIEW

November 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Update: According to new data, NY’s major private utilities shut off service to 37,500+ customers in October, up from 22,750 last year, continuing the sharp upward trend since the pandemic. nysfocus.com/2025/11/15/t...

CHART:

Utility Shutoffs Have Increased Sharply

Some 300,000 New York households have had their electricity or gas shut off so far this year. Use the dropdown to check your utility.

[line graph showing quarterly data on utility shutoffs Q1 2020–Q3 2025, with a flat line of zero shutoffs during the pandemic and snaking upwards from 2022 to present with large spike so far in 2025]

Source: Utility reports filed to the Public Service Commission, compiled by Alliance for a Green Economy • New York Focus analysis

November 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Worth noting here that utility shutoffs have already spiked this year. New York’s seven largest investor-owned utilities cut off service to more than 300,000 customers by the end of September — the most in at least 15 years and more than twice as many as last year.

November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Hochul held a presser with Rep. Paul Tonko this morning calling on Trump to release the funds immediately, calling the delays “cruel.”

She seems pretty closed to the idea of further state action to open HEAP faster or prevent utility shutoffs, as some advocates and lawmakers have been calling for.

via Flickr:

November 17, 2025 - Albany, NY - Governor Kathy Hochul calls on the Trump Administration to release federal heat assistance funding. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

The spending package Trump signed last week extends last year’s $4.1 billion for LIHEAP nationally, which should mean about $400 million for New York. But it’s only a stopgap bill and it’s still not clear exactly how much the state will get — or when.

Federal funding for the program is typically renewed every October, and the state planned to reopen applications on November 3. If the winter program had gone as planned, participants would already be seeing their first funds arrive. But as a result of the shutdown, the state has not yet opened applications.

US Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said that the agency “will work swiftly to administer annual awards now that the Democrat-led shutdown is over.” (The agency is continuing to oversee the program despite firing the entire team dedicated to it in April.)

This week’s budget deal preserves last year’s funding level for LIHEAP — $4.1 billion nationally — but only funds the government through January. Previous administrations have arranged to send out nearly all LIHEAP funds to states at the start of the season, even under similar short-term budget deals. Tonko, the Albany-area congressmember, is pressing the White House to ensure that happens again now, but ultimately Trump “retains significant discretion over how much of the $4.1 billion is actually released,” said Tonko’s spokesperson Jonah Cohen.

November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Helpful look at why many utilities are starting to think data center power demand is exaggerated: www.ft.com/content/331f...

[FT]

ComEd, which serves Illinois, the US’s fourth-biggest data centre market, is trying to increase project deposits. The company charges $1mn for data centre developers seeking 50MW or more but aims to charge an additional $500,000 for each 100MW beyond 200MW.

Such moves help weed out “queue squatters and zombie projects”, said Sunny Elebua, chief strategy and sustainability officer at Exelon, ComEd’s parent company. The utility, which serves more than 10mn people, recently declared that out of its 65-gigawatt 2040 pipeline, it is confident that only 22 per cent is likely to materialise.

November 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

This follows the model used to develop efficient, plug-in window heat pumps through the Clean Heat for All challenge.

That pilot was really successful but the wider promised rollout has been slow (see my story from April, though the tariff news is out of date) nysfocus.com/2025/04/15/t...

NYCHA selected Midea and another manufacturer called Gradient in 2022 and installed an initial 72 heat pumps the following year. By most accounts, the test round has been a smashing success. Residents at a Queens development are now coming out of a second winter heating their apartments with the test units and have rated them a major improvement over the old radiators. The heat pumps have yielded close to 90 percent energy savings and roughly halved energy costs for those homes, according to a NYCHA analysis.

But the rollout has been slow. NYCHA hasn’t installed any new heat pumps since the test round, even though the agency originally announced that it would install more than 20,000 heat pumps over five years. A spokesperson told New York Focus that the authority received another 150 units from Midea in January, which it plans to install across about 50 apartments over the coming months. And it still plans in the next two years to begin a wider rollout, which would see about 15,000 of the heat pumps installed.

[picture of a Midea heat pump installed in a NYCHA window, viewed from outside]

November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

One cool thing happening in NY climate world:

NYCHA and state partners have announced a $32 million deal with the company Copper to bring battery-equipped induction stoves to 10,000 public housing apartments. They plug into a regular outlet. www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro...

A Copper Co. induction range and oven displayed in a sleek new kitchen. via https://designawards.core77.com/Sustainability/128827/Charlie-By-Channing-St-Copper-Co.html

November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

⚠️ NYS has agreed to hold off on implementing its All-Electric Buildings law — which was supposed to take effect on Jan 1 — while a federal appeals court reviews it.

Gas and builders groups + some building trades unions had appealed after the Northern District court upheld the law over the summer.

1. Plaintiffs’ Motion for an Injunction Pending Appeal is withdrawn, and Plaintiffswill not seek any injunction pending appeal in the Second Circuit or in the U.S. Supreme Court;

2. The effective date of 19 N.Y.C.R.R. § 1240.6 (as amended by 10/1/25 N.Y. St.Reg. DOS-11-25-00001-A) and 19 N.Y.C.R.R. Subpart 1229-2 (as amended by 10/1/25 N.Y. St.Reg. DOS-11-25-00002-A), is hereby suspended, pending final disposition of the Plaintiffs’appeal in the Second Circuit and the disposition of any petition for a writ of certiorari, if suchwrit is timely sought, consistent with the timing set forth in paragraph 4.

3. Consistent with paragraph 2, Defendant Mosley is hereby directed to take suchaction as necessary to suspend or delay the effective date of 19 N.Y.C.R.R. § 1240.6 (as amendedby 10/1/25 N.Y. St. Reg. DOS-11-25-00001-A) and 19 N.Y.C.R.R. Subpart 1229-2 (as amendedby 10/1/25 N.Y. St. Reg. DOS-11-25-00002-A) pending the final disposition of the appeal in theSecond Circuit and the disposition of any petition for a writ of certiorari, if such writ is timelysought, consistent with the timing set forth in paragraph 4.

4. If no writ of certiorari is timely sought, this suspension shall terminateautomatically 120 days after the issuance of the mandate of the Second Circuit. Should a writ ofcertiorari be timely sought by any party, and denied, then this suspension shall terminateautomatically on the 120th day after such denial. Should a writ of certiorari be timely sought by

November 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

whereas the $2 billion+ represent the amount that customers will end up being charged over 15 years, once you factor in the cost of paying down the investment over time.

Relevant footnotes here in case those are at all clarifying.

These values reflect a present value calculation of an expected fixed capacity charge rate of between
$1.47/Dth/month and $1.77/Dth/month over 15 years, using a 7% discount rate.
131 These are preliminary estimates and assume the fixed capacity rate remains flat in nominal terms over a 15-year
period.
132 Refers to the estimated present value of investments in National Grid’s gas distribution infrastructure required to
accommodate the incremental natural gas volumes associated with NESE and ensure reliable delivery to end-use
customers.

November 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

The $2 billion+ figure originally comes from National Grid’s July gas plan addendum about the pipeline. It puts the total costs over 15 years at ~$2.2-2.6 billion.

Grid presents this alongside estimated statewide electricity savings from the pipeline /
documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Commo...

Figure 4-1: 2028-2042 Estimated Benefits & Costs Summary Table Benefits Upstate New York (A-E) 123 Capital District and Lower Hudson Valley (F/G-H-I) 124 Downstate New York (J-K)125 Total Wholesale Electricity Savings Benefit-26 CNG Savings 127,128 Total Benefits Costs Expected Pipeline Costs130,131 Preliminary Capitalized Infrastructure Upgrades132 Total Costs

2028 PV Benefits ($M)122 $1,946 $1,318 $2,750 $6,013 $520 $6,534 2028 PV Costs ($M)129 $2,092 - $2,518 $69 $2,160 - $2,587

November 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

“more than half of global urban GDP is concentrated in cities most exposed to climate disasters”

“nearly one-third of major global cities are already facing economic decline due to climate stress” firststreet.org/research-lib...

30%

of major global cities are already facing economic decline due to climate stress

[First Street graphic]

November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Inbox: Major climate groups sign off on ConEd rate hike deal 🤯

Will institute 2.8% bill increases for each of the next three years and “heat pump–friendly” electric rates. The ratepayer advocacy group PULP is staying neutral.

While more progress is needed to ensure an equitable, affordable, and clean energy future, there are key wins for customers and the environment in this agreement:

Fairer, Simpler Rates: For years, default electric rates – designed for fossil-fueled homes – have penalized customers who adopt clean heat pumps. Under the agreement, ConEd must study and appropriately reform its time-of-use and demand-based rates to ensure electrified homes no longer overpay.

Personalized Tools for Bill Savings: The proposal requires ConEd to give customers powerful new tools: personalized rate calculators that use real hourly data to find the lowest-cost rate for each home; online platforms that show potential savings from technologies like heat pumps and EVs before purchase; and annual reports that proactively alert customers to better rate options and projected savings.

Expanded Access & Price Guarantees: The agreement extends a one-year price guarantee for customers on the Time-of-Use Rate (SC 1 Rate III) and removes outdated caps on participation. Customers can now explore new rate options without risk of higher bills, expanding access to savings for all.

“Con Edison’s leadership puts New York alongside utilities nationwide that are making heat pump-friendly rates the norm,” said Alex Lopez, Senior Manager, Regulatory Policy at Rewiring America. “By combining rate reform with proactive, personalized education, this plan shows how utilities can help customers unlock the full value of electrification.”

ConEd initially sought to raise residential electric bills next year by 11.4%. In addition to reforming rates for heat pump customers, the agreement cuts the electric bill increase for the average customer to 2.8% next year and limits future rate hikes to that same percentage for 2027 and 2028. The agreement also requires the company to improve language access and enhance its bill assistance programs, including improving outreach to eligible customers.

The Joint P…

November 6, 2025 at 10:07 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

👀 NYPA moving forward with nuclear:

The Power Authority issued solicitations this morning for (1) communities interested in hosting a new nuke plant, and (2) developers interested in partnering on building one. Both due on Dec. 11

For Immediate Release: 10/30/2025

New York Power Authority Issues First Solicitations for Advanced Nuclear Project

Requests for Information Solicit Interested Host Communities and Developers to Support Governor Kathy Hochul’s Call to Build at least 1 GW of Nuclear Energy in Upstate New York

NYPA to Hold Virtual Webinar for Community Members on November 6th

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today issued its first solicitations as part of a new initiative to develop 1 gigawatt (GW) of advanced nuclear energy. The two solicitations include a Request for Information (RFI) for Upstate New York communities interested in hosting an advanced nuclear project developed by the Power Authority, and an RFI seeking information from potential development partners with experience developing, constructing, operating or servicing nuclear power projects. The Power Authority will hold an informational webinar on November 6 at 10 a.m. for communities interested in responding to the RFI. Registration for the webinar can be found here.

The Power Authority’s initiative was spurred by Governor Kathy Hochul who in June called on the Power Authority to develop at least 1 GW of advanced nuclear capacity in Upstate New York to address growing reliability, affordability and clean energy capacity concerns. NYPA immediately commenced pre-feasibility efforts and began discussions with a range of stakeholders, including labor organizations on workforce development needs for the initiative. The Power Authority’s nuclear initiative is intended to deliver firm, zero-emission power that complements renewable generation, strengthens grid reliability, prioritizes affordability and advances an energy policy of abundance that prioritizes energy independence and supply chain security.

“At the Power Authority, we recognize that the success of this transformative advanced nuclear initiative hinges on our ability to collaborate with communities, governmental agencies at the state and fe…

RFI for Interested Communities

Following the Governor’s initial announcement, the Power Authority heard informally from several community leaders and elected officials willing and eager to host an advanced nuclear facility. By issuing an RFI, NYPA has formalized a process to receive information from interested communities and learn more about potential sites that meet the requirements for hosting a nuclear power facility. This RFI will shape the Power Authority’s nuclear initiative, aligning it with stakeholder feedback and local economic and social objectives.

At a minimum, responding communities should:

Identify at least one site in Upstate New York with strong potential for a nuclear new build as it relates to size, water access and protection from external hazards.
Demonstrate support from community members and key stakeholders.

Responses will help NYPA and potential development partners identify and prioritize communities that are both technically suitable and willing to host a nuclear facility. Responses should be no more than 10 pages in length and should be received by December 11, 2025.

RFI for Interested Developers

Through a second RFI for nuclear project developers and partners, the Power Authority seeks information regarding viable project concepts that include technology recommendations, siting considerations, cost and timeline assumptions, ownership structure and partnership models. The responses should demonstrate a credible path to delivering at least 1 GW of advanced nuclear capacity as soon as possible, with construction start by 2033.

Interested parties should respond and demonstrate a track record of developing, constructing, operating or servicing nuclear power projects.

Both RFIs and related materials can be found online at: nypa.gov/Procurement. The RFIs are neither contract offers nor requests for proposals and do not commit NYPA to award a contract or pay any costs incurred by a party in the preparation of a re…

October 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Updated to include this response from Hochul:

Governor Hochul, “My job is to ensure we have enough power to keep the lights on, keep rates affordable, and attract major economic development projects. New York has been, and will continue to be, a leader in climate action, but the judge's decision fails to factor in the realities of today that include a federal government hostile to clean energy projects, the continuing impacts of post-COVID high inflation, and potential energy shortages expected downstate as soon as next year. We plan to review all our options, including working with the Legislature to modify the CLCPA and appeal, in order to protect New Yorkers from higher costs.”

October 25, 2025 at 12:03 AM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

👀 NYS Assembly environment chair Deborah Glick is not running for reelection next year. In a press release, she says one of her top priorities in the final year of her tenure is passing the packaging waste reduction act that very nearly passed this year.

As an environmentalist, I’m proud to have passed into law the first regulation – in any state – of neonicotinoid pesticides, which are so deadly to pollinators and other wildlife; to have banned wildlife killing contests and the transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption.

With another year left in my tenure – I will work hard to add to my accomplishments, because the world faces serious threats to clean water and clean air. Our very health is threatened by dangerous chemicals in everyday products and ubiquitous plastic products and packaging made from fossil fuels and toxic materials. I will work hard to reduce excessive packaging that is not only a challenge to our health, but also costly to dispose of in landfills, which are running out of space.

Finally, I thank my constituents for their support, their intelligence and their confidence in my work.

October 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

historic paving agenda

For Immediate Release: 10/22/2025
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES THE LARGEST NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PAVING INVESTMENT IN HISTORY TO TAKE PLACE IN 2026

Unprecedented Paving Investment Leverages $800 Million Secured in Current State Budget to Reinforce the State Department of Transportation’s Capital Plan, Largest in State History

Nearly 2,150 Lane Miles To Be Paved in Every Region of the State in Addition to the Department’s Core Road and Bridge Program

View List of Paving Projects Broken Down by Region Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an unprecedented investment to renew dozens of vital state roadways across New York State during the 2026 construction season. Leveraging the $800 million that Governor Hochul secured in the most recent state budget to augment the final two years of its five-year, $34.3 billion Capital Plan, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will invest more than $600 million in over 180 paving projects across the state to be completed next year. These projects, which total almost 2,150 lane miles, are in addition to the paving initiatives already scheduled as part of NYSDOT’s core programs and, taken together, represent the most ambitious annual road resurfacing agenda ever put forward by NYSDOT. This historic investment is part of Governor Hochul’s commitment to improve public safety through critical investments in transportation infrastructure, enhancing quality of life for all New Yorkers. In 2022, Governor Hochul secured full funding for NYSDOT’s 2022-2027 Capital Plan, the largest in the agency’s history.

“As someone who has ridden on virtually every mile of every state road across New York, I know firsthand every curve and every pothole, and next year we will be making an unprecedented investment to improve state roads across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers will be seeing crews out there like never before next year, rejuvenating high…

October 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Do many places have zoning restrictions like NYC used to? brooklynsolarcanopy.com/2023/12/06/n...

Previously, installing solar canopies, especially over parking lots, was a bureaucratic nightmare. They were often classified as “obstructions,” making the permitting process long and arduous, discouraging many potential solar adopters. “City of Yes,” initiative removes unnecessary restrictions and categorizes solar canopies as “permitted obstructions” in most areas. This means they can be installed with minimal fuss, opening up a vast new canvas for solar energy generation across the city.

[via brooklynsolarcanopy.com]

October 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

Huh yeah, especially after this (which I had missed at the time!): www.thecity.nyc/2025/10/17/r...

In June, the New York Times reported that NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry had been attempting to coordinate a large-scale raid with the Trump administration at the Randall’s Island migrant shelter which closed in February. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch learned of the scheme and quashed it.

[via THE CITY]

October 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

ICYMI (as I did): Mamdani on Local Law 97 in last week’s debate, via Politico

“The city has a role here in procurement at a large scale,” Mamdani said, referencing the Clean Heat for All Challenge to install heat pumps in NYCHA buildings www.politico.com/newsletters/...

[via POLITICO]

When asked about Local Law 97, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, said that he supported the law. “Yes, we have to implement it, but we have to implement it in a way that is feasible,” Cuomo said, referring to building owners who will opt to pay the fines because they are cheaper than paying for the upgrades that are needed to comply with the aggressive emissions caps.

But the former governor did not offer any specifics of what a feasible implementation would actually look like.

Mamdani also recognized that building owners are incentivized to cough up the fine rather than upgrade their buildings. But he went further than Cuomo, saying that he supports using the city’s buying power to help building owners with upgrades.

“The city has a role here in procurement at a large scale,” Mamdani said, referencing the Clean Heat for All Challenge to install heat pumps in NYCHA buildings. “It's time to do it right here in New York City, to assist those condo and co-op owners in meeting the standards.”

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa said he would slow down the implementation of the law as mayor. “It will destroy those people who have invested in co-ops and condos,” he said.

October 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM

Colin Kinniburgh

@colinreports.bsky.social

👀 Ten NY Congressmembers, including Hakeem Jeffries, are urging the Hochul administration to reject the NESE pipeline.

Almost all of them already came out against the pipeline last time the state was considering it so it’s not a huge surprise, but does add pressure on Hochul

$[Letter on US Congress letterhead] October 15, 2025 The Honorable Kathy Hochul Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 The Honorable Amanda Lefton Commissioner New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12224 Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Lefton: As members of the New York State congressional delegation, we write to express our concern over the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project. This project, which would bury 17 miles of fracked gas pipeline under the ocean floor in ecologically sensitive waters near Staten Island and the Rockaway Peninsula, poses significant and far-reaching implications for public health, environmental justice communities, climate goals, and marine ecosystems. It also threatens coastal economies that depend on tourism, recreation, water sports, and commercial fishing. The NESE Project would involve constructing a 23.5-mile, 26-inch fracked gas pipeline beneath Raritan Bay and Lower New York Bay, extending roughly two miles into Staten Island and about three miles into the Rockaways. Building the pipeline would require trenching and dredging through seabed sediments known to contain toxic substances, including arsenic, lead, PCBs, mercury, and dioxins...$ Signatures of Jerrold Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Adriano Espaillat, Yvette Clarke, Hakeem Jeffries, Dan Goldman, Nydia Velazquez, Grace Meng, Gregory Meeks, and Ritchie Torres