When Williams CEO Alan Armstrong recently said he would not build a natural gas pipeline in New York and other New England states because of their past opposition to natural gas, he was speaking from experience. And he doesn’t like what he remembers who his firm was treated by those states.
He vowed not to return until those states rolled out the red carpet for his company. But here’s what Armstrong and natural gas supporters are finding in the northeast part of the nation where they continue to use fuel oil to heat their homes and businesses and want to rely almost solely on renewable energy.
Armstrong indicated the northeast is losing out on the development of data centers across the rest of the country because of their great need for electrical power.
But consider this kind of opposition such as in the state of Massachusetts where Gov. Maura Healey is described by the Boston Herald as a “champion of renewable energy, especially wind.” This week, she received a letter from a handful of Bay State environmental groups complaining of soaring utility rates they contend are linked to the “rising cost of the gas pipeline system.” They asked the Governor to deliver a “quick, comprehensive reform” to the cost spike they also claimed has “caused real pain and been seized upon by climate deniers and opponents of clean energy.”
Massachusetts’ Governor responded by supporting a plan to cut taxpayer bills and ordering the state Department of Public Utilities to demand utility companies reduce bills by at least 5% for the remainder of the heating season.
In nearby Maryland, top Democratic lawmakers are urging legislation to create a new fossil fuel buildout across the state and at the same time weaken environmental protections. Environmentalists are fighting the efforts and hope they have the support of Gov. West Moore who, according to Inside Climate News had a robust environmental agenda as part of his 2025 legislative priorities.
President Trump had urged Williams to build the Constitution Pipeline and in recent days, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said work on the proposed pipeline to carry natural gas to New York could start by the end of the year.
Interviewed on FOX Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” he said it’s “highly likely” the Constitution Pipeline would move forward in 2025. As proposed, the line would carry natural gas from Pennsylvania to a hub near Albany, New York, then would be routed through other lines to New England.
“”No one loses by this, but silly politics of several years ago stopped these in the first go round. But I think it’s quite likely these pipelines will be under construction before this year is over,” Wright told Maria.
But as Armstrong indicated in an interview with Barron’s, he remembers how the project was blocked in 2020 by New York when it refused approval of necessary permits because of opposition by environmental activists.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently met with President Trump and the pipeline was expected to be part of their discussion. However, Hochul led the effort in 2023 for New York to become the first state to ban natural gas stoves and furnaces in most new builidings. The phase-in is supposed to begin in 2026 and new buildings will not be allowed to use fossil fuel equipment.
Then, as prices rose she switched her stance in February of this year and approved permits to expand a bi-state natural gas pipeline. She signed off on permits to expand the more than 400-mile long Iroquois Pipeline.
While environmentalists protested, State Assembly Minority Leadere Will Barclay defended natural gas as a proven and reliable source of energy.
“The green dreams of environmental extremists are meaningless if people can’t heat their homes in mid-February. It’s incredible to see radical liberals protest a necessary measure that allows New Yorkers to stay warm in the winter. But reliability, affordability, and common sense have never been priorities of New York’s climate cult.”
If the northeast is ever to give Alan Armstrong and Williams any red carpet treatment, it might be on a “reluctant” carpet rather than a red carpet.