May 21, 2025 — Gov. Kathy Hochul may have poked a hole in New York’s long standing pipeline blockade.

The governor celebrated the revival of one critically endangered energy resource last night as President Donald Trump allowed the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project to restart construction, POLITICO Pro reported. It faced uncertainty after the White House ordered the company to stop work on the fully permitted project last month.

Hochul also alluded obliquely to working with the federal government and private companies on “new energy projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law.” The governor told Newsday’s The Point that she indicated to Trump she was willing to approve pipelines if they met state and federal requirements.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum hours later praised Hochul in a post on X for her openness to new gas infrastructure.

“I am encouraged by Governor Hochul’s comments about her willingness to move forward on critical pipeline capacity,” he wrote. “Americans who live in New York and New England would see significant economic benefits and lower utility costs from increased access to reliable, affordable, clean American natural gas.”

There was no explicit offshore wind for pipeline tradeoff, according to Hochul’s office. “No deal was reached on any gas pipeline,” said Hochul spokesperson Paul DeMichele.

Still, the remarks raised alarm for some environmental advocates who want Hochul to keep the door closed to new gas pipelines, which they argue undermine the state’s climate law.

“If she goes down the path of exploring or, God forbid, approving pipelines, she should know that New Yorkers will make her life miserable until she’s compelled to do the right thing,” said Laura Shindell, New York director at Food and Water Watch.

While New York’s anti-fracking movement hasn’t been as active in recent years, advocates spent years hounding former Gov. Andrew Cuomo at nearly every public event to block hydraulic fracturing and pipelines.

Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of building a pipeline through New York, including reviving the Constitution Pipeline. Williams Co. dropped plans for that project in 2020, years after New York first denied a permit because of water quality concerns.

There are no pending new interstate pipeline applications in New York state. Hochul last year approved a project to increase the amount of natural gas flowing along an existing pipeline. State regulators said there was a reliability need for the additional supply.

Business leaders support more access to natural gas.

“We need more natural gas, and it should be available to businesses that want to expand,” said Matt Cohen, executive director of the Long Island Association.

Some environmental advocates — basking in the glow of a rare offshore wind victory — shrugged off the pipeline issue, given the likelihood of staunch public opposition, the years-long process and legal requirements in New York.

“We knew when Trump was elected that he was ‘drill baby drill,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “We know he thinks he’s the greatest dealmaker since sliced bread. If or when there’s something proposed, it will be reviewed — and gas pipelines take years to permit.”

Environmental advocates, union leaders and other supporters hailed the restart of the Empire Wind project as a major victory for the governor and New York’s economy.

It took an all-hands effort including Long Island Republicans, business groups, labor unions and even New York City Mayor Eric Adams to salvage the project. Hochul was on the phone with Trump three times over the weekend, pushing for it to restart.

Adams today sought to take some credit for the victory as well, citing a May 9 meeting with the president in D.C.

Adams, a registered Democrat, is running for reelection as an independent after losing support from voters wary of his hands-off attitude toward Trump.

Read the full article at Politico