New York

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Exxon Mobil | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Letter Proves NY AG, Others “Unlawfully” Ganged Up on ExxonMobil
August 11, 2016August 11, 2016

NY AG Eric Schneiderman – corrupt

Once again there is HUGE news that points to “unlawful” (i.e. illegal) actions on the part of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman–and mainstream media is ignoring it. Previously the Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) released copies of communications between Schneiderman, Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and other lefty Dems to engage in an unethical secrecy pact in their campaign to shake down Exxon Mobil by claiming the company “knew” man-made global warming exists and that burning the nasty fossil fuels the company produces contributes to it (see Smoking Gun: AGs Signed Pact to Keep Exxon Documents Secret). Now E&E Legal has released communications that show Schneiderman et al “unlawfully” colluded by forming an “informal coalition…to stem climate change and expand the availability and usage of renewable energy”. That is, they sought to attack a private company, Exxon, for not admitting mankind is causing a catastrophic toasting of Mom Earth. The AGs decided Obama’s Paris agreement needed some help–and they would do so by agreeing, and keeping secret their agreement, to target private companies like Exxon who won’t roll over and play dead on the issue of global warming. AG Schneiderman and the other lefty AGs have been caught corrupting our system of justice by forming a gang to bully companies and individuals into silence. Will we now see any justice against Schneiderman and the other law breakers? We’re not holding our breath…
Read More “Letter Proves NY AG, Others “Unlawfully” Ganged Up on ExxonMobil”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | New York | Tompkins County

Cayuga Power Plant Stays Open (Burning Coal) – Thx to Fractivists
August 9, 2016August 9, 2016

Credit: Ithaca Journal

In July 2013 we wrote this: “It would be hysterically funny if it weren’t so pathetically sad. So-called environmentalists don’t want an electrical generating power plant in Tompkins County, near Ithaca, NY, to switch from burning coal to natural gas because they’re afraid it will mean more fracking. Talk about cuckoo birds” (see NY Eco Group Protest to Stop Plant Converting from Coal to NatGas). In August 2013 we pointed out that if the plant can’t convert and ends up closing, the local school district is the biggest loser (see If NY Electric Plant Can’t Convert to NatGas, School Gets Screwed). The owner of the plant, Cayuga Operating Co., ended up selling it. The new owner, Riesling Power, tried to continue to process to get approval for converting the coal-fired plant to burn natural gas (not only cleaner, but also cheaper). Ultimately, the Cuomo-controlled Public Service Commission (PSC) turned down the request to convert. So guess what? The new owner certainly isn’t closing the plant after investing all that money. They’re going to keep operating it as a coal-fired plant–belching out far more pollution than a natgas plant would. Congratulations idiot fractivists (including obtuse Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, who wanted the plant closed). You’ve just screwed yourselves and all of your neighbors too!…
Read More “Cayuga Power Plant Stays Open (Burning Coal) – Thx to Fractivists”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Millennium Pipeline | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY

Millennium Pipe Asks FERC to Approve Eastern System Upgrade in NY
August 3, 2016August 3, 2016

Millennium Pipeline Map – click for larger version

The Millennium Pipeline stretches ~244 miles from Independence in Steuben County, NY to Buena Vista in Rockland County, NY. The Millennium, which is supplied by local production and storage fields and interconnecting upstream pipelines, serves customers along its route in New York’s Southern Tier region and helps meet the energy needs of northeast markets. Earlier this year, the Millennium pre-filed an application for what it calls its Eastern System Upgrade (ESU). The ESU would add 7.8 miles of extra looped pipeline in Orange County, upgrade a compressor station in Delaware County, build a new compressor in Sullivan County and make some minor tweaks to metering stations in Rockland County (see Millennium Pipeline Files with FERC to Upgrade Eastern Region). The ESU will pump another $275 million into the New York economy with the end result of increasing the flow of natural gas for New York and beyond by fall 2018. Last Friday the Millennium officially filed and asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to move forward and build. That’s despite the best efforts by THE Delaware Riverkeeper to stop this (and all other) pipeline project…
Read More “Millennium Pipe Asks FERC to Approve Eastern System Upgrade in NY”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Statewide VA | Virginia | Williams

FERC Approves Transco Expansion Projects in NYC & Virginia
July 29, 2016July 29, 2016

In July 2015 Williams filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the $130 million New York Bay Expansion project, which will flow Marcellus gas to 500,000 additional New York City residents by the 2017/2018 heating season (see Williams Announces New Upgrades to Transco Pipeline into NYC). In March 2015, Williams filed an application with the FERC for the Virginia Southside II Expansion project, to provide 250,000 dekatherms per day of Marcellus gas to power Dominion’s new monster 1,580 megawatt natgas-fired electric generating plant in Greensville County, VA (see Dominion Begins Building Virginia’s Biggest NatGas Power Station). GREAT news! Yesterday FERC approved both projects…
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Empire Pipeline | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Seneca Resources | Statewide NY | Statewide PA

NFG’s Northern Access Pipeline Gets Favorable FERC Review
July 28, 2016July 28, 2016

National Fuel Gas (NFG), the Buffalo-based utility giant with both a drilling subsidiary (Seneca Resources) and a midstream/pipeline subsidiary (Empire Pipeline) filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in March 2015 for a pipeline project they call Northern Access 2016 (later renamed to simply Northern Access Project, dropping the “2016” part). The $455 million project includes building 97 miles of new pipeline along a power line corridor from northwestern Pennsylvania up to Erie County, NY. The project also calls for 3 miles of new pipeline further up, in Niagara County, along with a new compressor station in the Town of Pendleton (see NFG’s Marcellus Pipeline from NWPA to NY Hits Resistence). Although the project has faced some resistance from anti-fossil fuelers, FERC has just issued a favorable Environmental Assessment (EA), which means the project is on track for full FERC approval…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

FERC Grants Williams Constitution Pipeline a 2-Year Extension
July 27, 2016July 27, 2016

As we reported yesterday, last Friday Williams and the Constitution Pipeline filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend their application to build the Constitution Pipeline from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY (see Constitution Pipeline Requests 2-Year Extension from FERC). New York’s corrupt governor, Andrew Cuomo, is trying to stop the project (apparently his hands didn’t get greased enough). It didn’t take long. FERC granted Constitution’s request yesterday…
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Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Statewide WV | West Virginia

FERC Grants Dominion Clarington Project a 1-Year Extension
July 27, 2016July 27, 2016

In June 2014 Dominion filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct and operate new compression facilities at existing compressor stations in Marshall County, WV and Monroe County, OH, and certain other facilities, collectively called the Clarington Project (see Dominion Asks FERC for New Compressors in Upstate NY, WV). The Clarington project, costing a modest $76.5 million, will allow Dominion to provide 250,000 dekatherms (Dth) per day of firm transportation service for CNX Gas, otherwise known as CONSOL Energy. Last August, FERC approved Dominion’s request (see FERC Approves Dominion WV/OH Compressor Project, Rips Anti Group). FERC gave Dominion a year to complete the project, but Dominion filed a request last Friday requesting more time. FERC agreed and has extended the project completion date an extra year…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

Constitution Pipeline Requests 2-Year Extension from FERC
July 26, 2016July 26, 2016

Constitution Pipeline map – click for larger version

For years now, MDN has tracked the ongoing sad, maddening, tragic saga of the Constitution Pipeline–a $683 million, 124-mile pipeline due to run from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY carrying Marcellus gas (see our stories here). The pipeline is full reviewed and authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission–it has been since 2014. The only thing left is a permit from the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue stream crossing permits. The DEC has, however, been corrupted by our corrupt governor, Andrew Cuomo. The Constitution worked with the DEC to meet ALL of their requirements, and in fact did meet all of their requirements, and in the end Cuomo said “nyet” and the servile “leaders” at the DEC did their master’s bidding and turned down the Constitution (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). So the Constitution sued (see Williams Sues NY Over Constitution Pipe – DEC May Lose Authority). However, the FERC clock is ticking. The Constitution has until the end of this year to get the pipeline built. With the glacial pace of the courts, that ain’t gonna happen. So the Constitution (i.e. Williams), last Friday, filed a request with FERC to extend the certificate to build by an additional two years…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

Constitution Pipeline Gets a Little (Court) Help from Its Friends
July 21, 2016July 21, 2016

Constitution Pipeline map – click for larger version

In perhaps the sleaziest of sleazy political moves, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the non-science-based political decision to deny the Constitution Pipeline stream crossing permits in April (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). The man is a menace to all New Yorkers. He caves to his radical, fringe left on a regular basis, as he did with his decision to deny the Constitution Pipeline. Williams, Cabot and the other partners in the project aren’t taking it laying down. They sued New York State in federal court with the very real possibility that the court will neuter NY’s decision-making role in the project (see Williams Sues NY Over Constitution Pipe – DEC May Lose Authority). The Constitution doesn’t stand alone. A number of national industry organizations are coming to the Constitution’s defense. On Tuesday the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) and other groups together filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. “Amicus curiae” means “friend of the court” in Latin. The brief (full copy below) makes the point that states should not be the tail that wags the federal-oversight-of-such-projects dog. That is, the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is preventing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from doing its job. One government entity (especially a state) cannot block the power and authority of another government entity (in particular the federal government)…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY

FERC Rejects NY AG’s Anti-Constitution Pipeline Petition
July 18, 2016July 18, 2016

NY AG Eric Schneiderman – petition rejected by FERC

In May MDN told you about a sleazy political move by New York’s corrupt Attorney General, Eric Scheiderman, who petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to investigate Williams over the Constitution Pipeline, with a recommendation that FERC withdraw its approval of the project (see NY Attorney General Asks FERC to Investigate Constitution Pipe). Schneiderman claimed that Williams was cutting trees along the path of the pipeline before the state had issued stream crossing permits (which it decided not to do). We told you, in a follow-up story, that Schneiderman’s claims of premature tree cutting by Williams was a fraud (see NY AG’s Allegation of Tree Cutting by Constitution Pipe a Fraud). A Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin investigation found that some trees along the pipeline’s path in New York State had been cut–but not by Williams. The landowners themselves were cutting the trees in anticipation of the project–to profit from the sale of the timber. On Friday FERC officially responded to the corrupt Schneiderman’s petition by saying, in so many words, to stuff it…
Read More “FERC Rejects NY AG’s Anti-Constitution Pipeline Petition”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Statewide NY

Former NY AG Emasculates Current AG, ExxonMobil Not Like Tobacco
July 18, 2016July 18, 2016

Dennis Vacco – former NY AG

Let’s add some insult to injury, because New York’s corrupt Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, so richly deserves it. Today’s lead story on MDN is about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejecting a petition by AG Schneiderman–his request that FERC withdraw its approval of the Constitution Pipeline and investigate Williams over false allegations of premature tree clearing related to the project (see FERC Rejects NY AG’s Anti-Constitution Pipeline Petition). Schneiderman is a power-mad leftist, hellbent on shaking down so-called Big Oil companies like Exxon Mobil. Schneiderman himself has been caught in a collusion scandal with several other AGs and with Big Green groups to try and smear and extort Exxon (see NY AG, Others Served Congressional Subpoena re Exxon Witch Hunt). One of Schneiderman’s favorite (false) claims is that Exxon Mobil “knew” that mankind is causing mythical global warming by burning fossil fuels–and that they kept it secret–like Big Tobacco companies knew their product was causing cancer. Schneiderman hopes to sue Exxon and other Big Oil companies and extort gazillions of dollars from them. The Dems are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect. Except…except none of their fairy tales are true and no one believes it. Into this mix, along has come a former New York Attorney General, Republican Dennis Vacco, who served as NY AG from 1995-1999. Vacco was part a group of AGs who successfully sued Big Tobacco, so he knows a thing or two about that case. Vacco says, writing in the Washington Post, that Schneiderman’s claims of a case against Exxon is NOTHING LIKE the case against Big Tobacco. Vacco emasculates Schneiderman and his claims of a case against Exxon…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Exxon Mobil | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Smoking Gun: AGs Signed Pact to Keep Exxon Documents Secret
July 8, 2016July 8, 2016

Emails recently obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests provide proof that New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, along with Democrat AGs from a number of other states, pre-planned an attack on Exxon Mobil, not only colluding with each other, but with also with radical environmental groups. And they tried to keep it all secret. AG Schneiderman’s office circulated a “Common Interest Agreement” to the other AGs–a pact he wanted them to sign that they would not release any documents about their colluding schemes to smear Exxon–BEFORE they launched the attack. We honestly wonder if what they did is criminal. We sincerely hope Exxon is pushing for an FBI investigation into this bunch of sleazy AGs–which include not only Schneiderman, but also the AGs from the Virgin Islands, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts…
Read More “Smoking Gun: AGs Signed Pact to Keep Exxon Documents Secret”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Tompkins County

NY Lawmakers Ask Gov. Cuomo to Ban New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
July 8, 2016July 8, 2016

Barbara Lifton

Barbara Lifton is a dangerously stupid person. Dangerous because she happens to be an elected member of the New York State Assembly–representing the ultra-liberal bastion of Ithaca, NY. Lifton has long opposed shale drilling in the state, but her hatred of shale drilling has now spilled over and metastasized into a full-blown, irrational hatred of all fossil fuels. Lifton and 21 other energy no-nothings in the NY state legislature sent a signed letter to Gov. Andrew “man-child” Cuomo asking him to halt all state approvals of pipelines, compressor stations, power plants, and gas storage facilities. Essentially–stop any more development of energy that comes from fossil fuels. Even though, as we reported Wednesday, last year 81.5% of all energy used in this country (and in New York State) came from fossil fuels (see Last Year Fossil Fuels Provided 81.5% of All Energy Used in U.S.). That’s the stupid part. Lifton and her cronies are advocating that we dump the source of 81.5% of our energy. Let’s play a “what if?” game. If such a thing were done, if we stopped using fossil fuels in New York State, we would be instantly transported back to the Stone Ages, complete with mass death and disease. Ninety percent or more of the population would either have to move, or die. Here’s the humorous part: The letter Lifton signed requesting an energy holocaust was produced on a computer made from plastics (i.e. fossil fuels) and powered with electricity from fossil fuels. The clothes she wore at a rally in Binghamton to announce this lunacy were made from plastic fibers (i.e. fossil fuels), and she got to the rally from Ithaca in a vehicle powered by fossil fuels, riding in a vehicle and on tires made from fossil fuels. You get our drift. Pure insanity. Here’s a report about the letter, the rally, and the dangerously stupid Barbara Lifton…
Read More “NY Lawmakers Ask Gov. Cuomo to Ban New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Exxon Mobil | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Statewide NY

Exxon Beats Back Free Speech Attack by Liberal AGs in Climate Fight
July 1, 2016July 1, 2016

MDN previously chronicled an insidious effort being spearheaded by the odious New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in an attempt to criminalize free speech by accusing Exxon Mobil of “knowing” man-made global warming is “true” but suppressing that knowledge (see NY AG Targets/Accuses ExxonMobil of Lying about ‘Climate Change’). You disagree with Scheiderman on global warming, he wants to take your money away and put you in jail. As we’ve pointed out, it’s Nazi-like (see Rise of the New (Environmental) Nazis – Free Speech Under Attack). Schnedierman has convinced other state AGs to join his cackle (what a group of hyenas is called), including the far-left AG of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, and the hapless, bumbling idiot of an AG in the Virgin Islands, Claude Walker. What the cackle didn’t expect is that their prey would turn around and begin hunting them! Exxon has already stopped Mass. AG Healey (see Exxon Fights Back Against Mass. AG’s Illegal Subpoena). Now, add one more victory to Exxon’s tally: the hapless Virgin Islands AG Walker has withdraw his subpoena against the company…
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New York | Statewide NY

Gov Cuomo Blocks Drilling & Pipelines, Then Hails NatGas as “Clean”
June 24, 2016June 24, 2016

If this doesn’t take the cake: The very corrupt New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sold out his own residents and their property rights to radical leftists by placing an ongoing moratorium on high volume (not low volume) hydraulic fracturing, and then by denying the Constitution Pipeline necessary permits to begin construction. He also signed on to nutjob Al Gore’s so-called climate initiative (an elaborate hoax to profit Big Green causes). Cuomo has done everything he can to stop natural gas production in the Empire State. And then he turns around, and as part of his official energy policy says (via his underlings at the Public Service Commission) says that natural gas is clean-burning and important part of the state’s energy future. Talk about chutzpah!…
Read More “Gov Cuomo Blocks Drilling & Pipelines, Then Hails NatGas as “Clean””
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY

Petition Asks Gov. Cuomo to Approve Upstate Pipeline Project
June 17, 2016June 17, 2016

We hate to say this, but we’ve seen this movie before. Last October the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Dominion’s $165 million New Market Project–a project that expands Dominion’s transmission pipeline from western New York across the state to the Capital Region of the state, near Albany (see FERC Approves Expansion of Dominion Pipeline in Upstate NY). As with any fossil fuel-related project, radical environmentalists objected (see NY Antis Flood FERC in Fight Against Dominion’s New Market Project). Also once again, there’s a holdup in New York–the Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC), at Gov. Cuomo’s behest, has delayed granting necessary permits for the project to begin. Can anyone say “Constitution” (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). Yesterday three groups, including the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the Business Council of New York State and New York State Laborers’ filed a petition with Cuomo with 10,000 signatures requesting he get off his rear-end and approve the New Market Project…
Read More “Petition Asks Gov. Cuomo to Approve Upstate Pipeline Project”