New York

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    Constitution Pipeline Doles Out Another $50K in Grants, Despite NY

    money-bag.jpgSince announcing the project in 2012, the Constitution Pipeline has handed out more than $2 million in community grants to fire departments, police departments and a variety of nonprofit organizations that benefit the community. Recently New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo decided to block the Constitution Pipeline to placate his radical left supporters (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). Williams and its partners in the project have taken NY to court to overrule their blockage (see Williams Sues NY Over Constitution Pipe – DEC May Lose Authority). Even though Cuomo’s dastardly action has thrown the project’s future into some doubt, Williams and the Constitution are expressing no doubts. They’ve just handed out another $50,000 in grants (the eighth time they’ve done it) to worthy organizations along the pipeline’s proposed route. Here’s who got the money, and how much…
    Read More “Constitution Pipeline Doles Out Another $50K in Grants, Despite NY”

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    NY AG’s Allegation of Tree Cutting by Constitution Pipe a Fraud

    Eric-Schneiderman.jpg
    NY’s arrogant AG – Eric Schneiderman

    The Attorney General of New York State, Eric Schneiderman, has been caught in a lie and he’s furiously backpedaling, trying to cover it up. On May 13 Schneiderman tried to pull a fast one by filing a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting FERC investigate the Constitution Pipeline for illegal felling of trees along the pipeline’s path in New York State (see NY Attorney General Asks FERC to Investigate Constitution Pipe). Guess what. Tree’s WERE cut along the path–but not by the Constitution. Landowners who wanted to realize the most money from trees that will eventually be cut were cutting the trees ON THEIR OWN, without the help, consent, assistance, nor any form of aide from the Constitution. Schneiderman’s pathetic response? The Constitution should have known those stupid farmers would cut the trees and should have done something to stop it. What breathtaking arrogance…
    Read More “NY AG’s Allegation of Tree Cutting by Constitution Pipe a Fraud”

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    NY’s 2 Radical Senators Call for Halt in Building Algonquin Pipeline

    Gillibrand and Schumer
    New York’s Senators – Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer

    Spectra Energy’s Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) pipeline project is an $876 million expansion of the existing Algonquin pipeline system that will carry 342 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to New England states that badly need the gas. On March 3, 2015 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued their final approval for the project, allowing it to go forward. Construction began last year and continues now, with a target in-service date later this year. New York’s radical, anti-drilling governor, Andy Cuomo, tried to stop the Algonquin using the flimsy excuse that some of the drilling for the pipeline would happen a half mile from a nuclear power plant–a plant that Cuomo wants to shut down anyway (see Gov. Cuomo Asks FERC to Halt Algonquin Pipeline Near Nuke Plant). A few weeks after Cuomo requested FERC shut it down, they told him “no” (see FERC Denies NY Request to Stop Work on Pipeline Near Nuke Plant). So, in good government/radical environmentalist collusion fashion, several Big Green groups filed an appeal with the liberal District of Columbia Court of Appeals to try and stop it (see Radical Enviro Groups File Appeal to Stop AIM Pipeline in NY/CT). Now, New York State’s two radically leftist Democrat Senators, Chuck “the schmuck” Schumer and Kirsten “who dat?” Gillibrand (the Senator nobody knows about and nobody cares about) have come down on the side of (surprise!) the radical kooks who want to stop the pipeline…
    Read More “NY’s 2 Radical Senators Call for Halt in Building Algonquin Pipeline”

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    Full Page NYT Ad Calls NY AG Schneiderman, Others “Un-American”

    abuse-of-power-ceiIn March MDN brought you news of an environmental Nazi confab in New York City, headlined by New York Attorney Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Al Gore (see Climate Change Hucksters, Incl. NY AG & Al Gore, Threaten O&G). The aim of the meeting was to overtly threaten any company or individual who disagrees with their perverted views on man-made global warming. Schneiderman and other far-left, liberal Democrat attorneys general will “investigate” (i.e. bully) businesses, organizations and individuals who dare to disagree with them. It’s breathtaking in its abuse of power. If ExxonMobil disagrees with Schneiderman’s views on global warming and says so–watch out! Here comes a lawsuit to shut them up and shut them down (see Rise of the New (Environmental) Nazis – Free Speech Under Attack). The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) recognizes the dangerous threat to our freedoms posed by Schneiderman and other out-of-control AGs with their abuses of power. On Tuesday the CEI published a full page ad in the New York Times (VERY expensive) calling out Scheiderman and others–exposing their duplicity and bullying and attempts at censoring free speech. The ad, signed by 43 organizations, legal experts, and individuals who value the First Amendment of the Constitution, calls Scheiderman and those aligned with him “un-American.” We couldn’t agree more…
    Read More “Full Page NYT Ad Calls NY AG Schneiderman, Others “Un-American””

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    Albany Common Council Votes to Oppose Pilgrim’s (Pipeline) Progress

    Pilgrim Pipeline
    Pilgrim Pipeline – click map for larger version

    Last November, MDN told you about Pilgrim Pipeline Holdings, developing an East Coast pipeline to carry refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and jet and aviation fuel northbound from Linden, New Jersey to Albany, New York (178 miles). In addition, a second Pilgrim pipeline will carry crude oil from Albany south to NJ and other locations. Two pipelines, side by side, liquids flowing through them in different directions (see Will Pilgrim Pipeline be Allowed to Settle in the NY World?). In April we told you about a strategy by New York anti-fossil fuel freakers to stop Pilgrim’s progress by using local town bans (see NY Antis Attempt to Stop Pilgrim Pipelines with Local Bans). Although it’s not a full-blown ban, the liberal Democrats who infest Albany, NY’s City Common Council voted on Monday night to approve a non-binding (i.e. toothless) resolution voicing their irrational opposition to the Pilgrim Pipeline project. Why? Because they view it as “an environmental risk” and a “public health hazard.” In other words, they have no reason why, other than to score political points with their base of crazy Democrat voters…
    Read More “Albany Common Council Votes to Oppose Pilgrim’s (Pipeline) Progress”

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    Stalled Seneca Lake Propane Storage Project Gets FERC Extension

    propane storage at Seneca
    Propane storage at Seneca Lake – click for larger version

    Some mildly good news for the much-needed propane storage facility proposed for Schuyler County, NY. MDN has extensively covered the fight to get the Seneca Lake Storage Project permissioned. In 2009 Inergy filed a request to convert a depleted salt cavern along the shore of Seneca Lake into a propane/natural gas storage facility. Inergy was later bought by and merged into Crestwood Midstream, and Crestwood Midstream later became Crestwood Equity. The New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation has been sitting on its hands from the beginning, refusing to grant the necessary permits to allow the facility to open. Sound familiar? Same old delay and later deny strategy from Cuomo. Since the DEC is completely dysfunctional at this point, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which is involved with approving the facility, has granted a two-year extension to Crestwood (and Crestwood subsidiary Arlington Storage Company) to give them more time to woo, cajole, entice and do whatever they can to get the DEC off it’s rear-end. Of course the FERC extension has sent the crazies protesters, like Sandra Steingraber, into orbit…
    Read More “Stalled Seneca Lake Propane Storage Project Gets FERC Extension”

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    Williams Sues NY Over Constitution Pipe – DEC May Lose Authority

    lawsuitThree cheers for Williams. Hip hip horray! Williams announced yesterday a two-pronged legal challenge against New York State and its decision to deny stream crossing permits for the federally-approved Constitution Pipeline project (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). The first prong is a lawsuit filed in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit–challenging the decision itself as “arbitrary and capricious.” The second prong is a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York–seeking recognition by the court that New York doesn’t even have jurisdiction over the project. It is this second case that should have Cuomo, the DEC and the antis VERY worried. If the case goes against them, it means that New York will forever be cut out of decision-making with regard to any FERC-approved projects. Properly so. NY has shown itself to be motivated by politics and not by science and certainly not by common sense. It’s time to remove NY from the equation. Staffers at the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) feared this might happen and counseled Cuomo to approve the Constitution project–sage advice he ignored…
    Read More “Williams Sues NY Over Constitution Pipe – DEC May Lose Authority”

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    NY Attorney General Asks FERC to Investigate Constitution Pipe

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    NY AG Eric Scheniderman

    Apparently the lawless attorney general of New York State, Eric Schneiderman, suspected Williams would sue the state over the Constitution Pipeline (see today’s lead story). In anticipation of such a lawsuit, last Friday Schneiderman sought to provide the corrupt Gov. Cuomo and his corrupt Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with political cover by demanding a federal investigation into the Constitution Pipeline. Schneiderman petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accusing Williams of (gasp) cutting down some trees along the pipeline route before New York’s dictatorial governor granted his “Mother, May I?” permission to do so. The petition/request is a not-so-transparent attempt to smear the Constitution project and deflect attention away from the lawless way in which the state has acted in not allowing this federally-approved project from advancing. In this case the feds trump the state–and that very issue will now play out in court…
    Read More “NY Attorney General Asks FERC to Investigate Constitution Pipe”

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    NY DEC Calls Propane Fracking “Unique Technology”; Wants More Info

    LPG Fracturing
    LPG Fracturing – Click for larger version

    It only took nine months, but the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which moves like a glacier, has finally responded to a request by a group of farmers in Tioga County, NY to use propane fracking technology (also known as LPG fracturing or “liquefied petroleum gas”) on a shale well. Last July a group of landowners flying under the name of The Snyder Farm Group (five families make up the group) contracted with Tioga Energy Partners (based in Texas) to drill a fracked Utica Shale well, and follow it up with drilling a fracked Marcellus Shale well, using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane) and sand (see NY Landowners File to Frack Horizontal Well w/Waterless Tech and NY Heroes: More Details on NY Propane Fracking Proposal). The wells will not use water for fracking–and therefore, according to the landowners, avoid the ban on high volume fracking recently imposed by Andrew Cuomo. It’s just coming to light that last month the DEC issued a “notice of incomplete application” for the proposal (see a copy below) and requested more information on things as truck traffic, how long it will take to frack, the type of storage tanks that will be used, etc. This is more Cuomo tried and true delay as long as you can, then delay some more. It’s always worked so well for the corrupt Cuomo, why not keep doing it? Here’s the details…
    Read More “NY DEC Calls Propane Fracking “Unique Technology”; Wants More Info”

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    Williams Pre-Files with FERC to Expand Transco Pipeline in PA, NY

    Transco Northeast Supply Enhanacement Project map
    Transco Northeast Supply Enhanacement Project map – click for larger version

    Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to begin the pre-filing process on a new project, called the Northeast Supply Enhancement project. The new project is meant to increase pipeline capacity and flows heading into northeastern markets. In particular, Transco wants to provide more natural gas to utility giant National Grid beginning with the 2019-2020 heating season. National Grid operates in New York City, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The Northeast Supply Enhancement project would build 10 miles of new pipeline in Lancaster County, PA (laid next to three existing pipelines, in the same corridor). It would also require 22 miles of new offshore pipeline located in New York Bay. A new compressor station would be built in Somerset County, NJ along with other upgrades, including an added compressor unit at a plant in Chester County, PA…
    Read More “Williams Pre-Files with FERC to Expand Transco Pipeline in PA, NY”

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    Gov Cuomo Turns NY into Sacrifice Zone with Frack & Pipeline Bans

    Karen Moreau
    Karen Moreau

    Yesterday API (American Petroleum Institute) New York Executive Director Karen Moreau held a conference call with reporters to discuss the importance of investing in energy infrastructure in the Empire State. By the way, API New York used to be called the API New York State Petroleum Council. Moreau spoke about Gov. Cuomo’s reckless actions in banning shale drilling, and now in preventing an important pipeline project–the Constitution–from being built. She pointed out that New Yorkers pay an average of 50% more for our electricity than residents in other states–mostly because of lack of pipelines and infrastructure in the state. When everyone thought Cuomo was about to allow fracking in select counties on a trial basis, antis called those counties “sacrifice zones.” We’re going to borrow their own language and use it against them. Gov. Cuomo has turned upstate NY into one, big economic sacrifice zone–sentencing residents to a life of poverty and enslavement. Why? To appease the people who vote him into office every four years (mostly located in New York City). A quid pro quo. Here’s an update on what Moreau said yesterday to reporters…
    Read More “Gov Cuomo Turns NY into Sacrifice Zone with Frack & Pipeline Bans”

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    Analyst Says Check Your History, Constitution Pipe Won’t Get Built

    Constitution Pipeline map
    Constitution Pipeline map – click for larger version

    An analyst with a Washington, D.C. policy and research firm believes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent action in denying Williams stream crossing permits for the Constitution Pipeline means that project is dead. He cites another pipeline project from a decade ago–the Islander East project–that faced a similar situation. In the end, Islander East didn’t get built. He believes the same fate is in store for the Constitution. We sincerely hope he’s wrong and that FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) will “grow a pair” and not let Gov. Cuomo bully them. At its heart this is a battle over the trampling of federal authority. We find it curious that Obama and his sycophants throughout the government are hellbent on expanding federal authority over every aspect of our lives–from health care, to what we eat, to what forms of power we can use. And yet these same people stand by and are silent when a federal agency like FERC is emasculated by a state like NY. Of course it should be the opposite. This is one time when the federal government Constitutionally has the authority to act, and that authority has been illegally co-opted by a state. FERC needs to force the issue in court to overrule NY’s abuse of power. The analyst, however, doesn’t see it that way…
    Read More “Analyst Says Check Your History, Constitution Pipe Won’t Get Built”

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    NY Antis Hope Gov. Cuomo Will Halt Pilgrim Pipeline’s Progress

    Pilgrim Pipeline logoIn November, MDN told you about Pilgrim Pipeline Holdings, developing an East Coast pipeline to carry refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and jet and aviation fuel northbound from Linden, New Jersey to Albany, New York (178 miles). In addition, a second Pilgrim pipeline will carry crude oil from Albany south to NJ and other locations. Two pipelines, side by side, liquids flowing through them in different directions (see Will Pilgrim Pipeline be Allowed to Settle in the NY World?). Earlier this month we told you about a strategy by New York anti-fossil fuel freakers to stop Pilgrim’s progress by using local town bans (see NY Antis Attempt to Stop Pilgrim Pipelines with Local Bans). But maybe such a town by town strategy won’t be necessary after all. The freakers are now buoyed by NY Gov. Cuomo’s decision to stop the Constitution Pipeline–a natural gas pipeline. The freakers think maybe Cuomo will halt Pilgrim’s progress too…
    Read More “NY Antis Hope Gov. Cuomo Will Halt Pilgrim Pipeline’s Progress”

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    Cabot/Williams to NY: You Lied Re Constitution Pipe, We’re Suing

    liar.jpgThe partners in the Constitution Pipeline, including Williams and Cabot Oil & Gas, have come roaring back against Gov. Cuomo and his pusillanimous Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after the DEC lied last Friday in announcing they would not grant stream crossing permits for the pipeline project. Yesterday Cabot, along with Williams, issued a STRONGLY worded rebuttal that says, in part that the DEC’s “stated rationale for the denial includes flagrant misstatements and inaccurate allegations, and appears to be driven more by New York State politics than by environmental science.” Flagrant misstatements is another way of saying the DEC lied, which is exactly what we said yesterday (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). The new statement also says the Constitution worked closely with the DEC for three years and bent over backwards, forwards and in every other possible direction to meet the DEC’s requests and requirements. The statement says “The project sponsors will pursue all available options to challenge the legality and appropriateness of New York’s decision.” In other words, we’re suing to force this project through. Good! About time!! Here’s the full statement (take time to read it)…
    Read More “Cabot/Williams to NY: You Lied Re Constitution Pipe, We’re Suing”

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    Constitution Pipe Denial May Destroy 2K Existing Upstate NY Jobs

    Raymond forkliftNew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s action to stop progress on the Constitution Pipeline has very real, tangible negative effects on jobs in Upstate New York. This is the true story of two large regional employers in New York’s Southern Tier that would benefit from cheap, abundant, and clean-burning Marcellus Shale gas from northeastern Pennsylvania. Wait. You believed the anti’s lie that all of the gas traveling through the Constitution would be transported to other areas, with much of it exported, and would not in any way benefit local residents? Yeah, that’s a lie. Another 100% lie pedaled by irrational fossil fuel haters. As the Constitution crosses places like Broome, Chenango and Delaware counties in the Southern Tier of New York State (i.e. “Upstate”), the pipeline will be tapped in several locations by Leatherstocking Gas Co.–a small but important local utility company. Leatherstocking will then provide gas to area communities and to two large businesses. One of those businesses is the Amphenol Aerospace plant in Sidney, NY. Amphenol is the largest employer in Delaware County with some 1,100 employees. Amphenol needs cheap Marcellus Shale gas from the Constitution to stay competitive and to keep the plant open. The second business is located in the small Chenango County village of Greene–Raymond Corporation. You know those bright red-colored forklifts you see in warehouses and factories? They’re all built at Raymond, which ships them worldwide. The facility is now owned by Toyota. Raymond also needs natural gas from the Constitution Pipeline. With over 800 1,600 employees at Raymond, it is the third largest employer in Chenango County. Does Gov. Cuomo really want to play Russian roulette with nearly 2,000 upstate jobs? Here’s the sad story of a corrupt governor bowing to political pressure and screwing his own constituents in Upstate…
    Read More “Constitution Pipe Denial May Destroy 2K Existing Upstate NY Jobs”

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    NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline

    BullRingYou can’t see we didn’t predict this outcome: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made the political decision to not grant the Constitution Pipeline stream crossing permits, temporarily stopping the project from advancing. Cuomo’s lackeys at the totally humiliated and discredited Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) made the announcement on Friday, so-called Earth Day. Virulent anti-drillers erupted in spontaneous (and multiple) orgasms at the news. The DEC claims Williams, the builder of the Constitution, did not provide detailed information about pipe burial that the DEC had requested. This is a blatant, 100% lie. Gov. Cuomo is corrupt and is being led, as our friend Tom Shepstone points out, by the nose by Rockefeller money. Prosecutor Preet Bharara–are you paying attention? MDN now calls on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to bypass New York State, as is its right under the U.S. Constitution. FERC has the power to bypass Cuomo and the DEC and authorize the pipeline without NY’s stream crossing permits. Yes, hoops will need to be jumped through with various courts, but now is the time to permanently remove NY from such decision-making. The state has proven it is incapable of making independent, science-based decisions on the topic of oil and gas drilling and pipelines. Time to overrule the state and move on. Below we have the DEC’s pathetic political cover-up, along with various responses to the news…
    Read More “NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline”