Consumer Group Submits Petition with Thousands of Signatures in Support of Enhanced Reliability and Increased Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity

ALBANY, N.Y.

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the Business Council of New York State and New York State Laborers’ today submitted a petition with more than 10,000 signatures of New York state citizens to Gov. Andrew Cuomo asking him to grant the permits needed to begin work on the New Market Project, which would enhance reliability and improve access to natural gas to National Grid customers in upstate New York.

“By permitting the New Market Project, New York will see an influx of private investment, tax dollars, and much-needed job creation,” CEA President David Holt said. “More importantly, homeowners, retirees, businesses and those of us living on fixed incomes, will enjoy lower utility prices. For these reasons, CEA – and its tens of thousands of consumer members — have always strongly supported a robust natural gas pipeline network throughout the country and the Northeast. Pipelines are also the safest, most efficient and most environmentally friendly method for moving energy resources to market – and this certainly fits the bill.”

Rather than build a new line, the project would add natural gas pipeline capacity through an existing line in order to provide much-needed natural gas to National Grid customers in New York. The additional new supply of natural gas will further serve customers in Albany, central New York, and the greater New York City areas by allowing for greater supply to affordable natural gas. This will encourage job growth and economic development.

Additionally, the project will allow consumers to save an estimated $20 million in the first 10 years of the project’s life. New York localities will also receive about $4.4 million in annual property tax payments, allowing the state to further invest in municipal service like roads, schools, firefighters, and snowplows.

“The Business Council of New York State is pleased to join with New Yorkers from all walks of life in support of the New Market Project. The Dominion Project would address the growth in natural gas demand in the Capital Region and ensure that New York City customers would have access to new sources of reliable and affordable natural gas,” said Heather C. Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State, Inc. “The project will not only relieve upstream supply constraints, it will also play a key part in New York’s energy future by providing New York consumers with enhanced access to affordable and clean natural gas.”

During peak construction, a New York-based contractor will hire an estimated 320 new employees to construct the new facilities. The project, in total, represents $158 million in private investment, much of which will be spent within New York’s borders.

“On behalf of 39,000 hardworking LiUNA members that call New York their home, the time has come for the Cuomo Administration to approve this project that will bring more jobs to New York State and lower the utility bills of New York State residents,” said John Hutchings, Director of the New York State Laborers’ Organizing Fund. “The working men and women of New York urge the administration to end the needless delays in approving this utility reliability project that benefits upstate and downstate New Yorkers.”

About Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together consumers, producers and manufacturers to engage in a meaningful dialogue about America’s energy future. With more than 400,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices for consumers and energy security. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all consumers to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop and diversify our energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. CEA promotes a thoughtful dialogue to help produce our abundant energy supply, and balance our energy needs with our nation’s environmental and conservation goals. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.

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Consumer Energy Alliance
James Voyles, 202-429-4362
jvoyles@consumerenergyalliance.org