Energy Secretary States Northeast Natural Gas Pipeline Project May Begin This Year

Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced on Friday that work on a proposed pipeline to transport natural gas through New York to help meet New England's energy needs could begin by the end of this year.

In an appearance on FOX Business Network's "Mornings with Maria," Wright expressed confidence that it is "highly likely" the Constitution Pipeline, along with other unnamed pipelines, will proceed this year.

The Constitution Pipeline would carry natural gas from Pennsylvania to a hub near Albany, New York, from where it would be directed through other pipelines to New England. The project was halted in 2020 by the state of New York, which denied the necessary permits in response to opposition from environmental groups.

"It's just such a win, win, win. This will lower costs for people in the New York area, for New England. Not just heating costs, which is a big deal – old houses are heated by fuel oil, natural gas is just so much cheaper and it burns cleaner," Wright said. "It'd also lower electricity prices, which, of course, everyone would cheer for as well, and allow businesses in New England or in the New York City area to expand and grow their businesses and grow more jobs."

"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 said.

Williams CEO Alan Armstrong, whose company was forced to abandon the project in 2020, stated last month that the project could be revived – but only if regional governors are on board.

Wright's remarks come before a meeting between President Donald Trump and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.

Trump is expected to discuss the pipeline with Hochul, aiming to secure state support for the Constitution Pipeline project, and told reporters in the Oval Office that he hopes to avoid using the "extraordinary powers of the federal government" to push it forward.

Trump further stated that the pipeline would save households in New York and New England thousands of dollars in energy costs once it becomes operational.

"It will reduce – the most expensive energy, almost in the world, is in New England because they have no way of getting it there because it's been held up by New York. And the whole of New England, and Connecticut, and New York, the energy prices are through the roof," Trump said.

"This one pipeline will save, per family, $2,500 just on heating and another $2,500 on everything else. So the energy, by just a simple pipeline going through an area that wants it. An area that's not a rich area, it's actually a very poor area, with great jobs and everything else," he added.