New York City – Today, Senators Liz Krueger and Pete Harckham, and Assembly Member Deborah Glick, released the following statement regarding the late addition of the National Grid gas planning forecast to the Public Service Commission's upcoming meeting agenda for Thursday, September 18th. The agenda addition comes as advocates have raised concerns that PSC is set to endorse a faulty reliability premise from National Grid based on outdated data. New York City raised these very issues in their September 5th public comments on National Grid's long-term gas plan addendum:
 

“As state legislators who have voiced our concerns and opposition to the dangerous NESE pipeline, we are gravely alarmed by the last-minute addition of National Grid's gas planning forecast to the PSC's meeting agenda on Thursday. National Grid’s forecast includes an attempt to establish a need for NESE based on a debunked reliability premise. They are seeking to get the PSC to support their push for NESE despite their own data showing it is not needed and will lead to an increase in New Yorkers’ utility bills.
 
“We value the engagement of the public and the energy and environmental community, and do not think that fast-tracking a vote only one week after the public comment period has ended is appropriate. We are further alarmed that the item on the agenda includes outdated projections of gas usage from National Grid instead of current, 2025 gas usage projections that show the new pipeline is not needed. New York City recently raised objections to National Grid’s forecast and process, there are a host of comments from other groups that have not been addressed, and there are additional serious questions about National Grid's data and projections. It is too soon for the PSC to issue a decision on this matter.
 
“We call on the PSC to take the NESE pipeline issue off their agenda at this time. This is a critical issue with implications for affordability, local water quality, and our shared climate. It demands a real process with proper public input, not a rush job.”