New York City – Today, Senator Liz Krueger released the following statement regarding the vote by the Public Service Commission in support of National Grid's long-term gas plan, which includes the controversial Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline:

“By rushing to vote on National Grid's long term gas plan today, which includes the last-minute addition of the NESE pipeline, the PSC is taking us one step closer to saddling New York gas customers with billions of dollars in costs for unnecessary, dirty infrastructure. The PSC essentially said today that they believe building the pipeline would be a prudent investment, opening the door to National Grid being able to recoup the costs in their next rate case - the only question then will be how big the bill is for New Yorkers to pay.

"The facts are clear - New York does not need Donald Trump's new pipeline. National Grid's own forecast fails to make the case for it, and the PSC's independent consultant offered an even more damning assessment. There is simply no reason to waste New Yorkers' money and lock us into a dirty, expensive, fossil fueled future.

"This is not how you stand up to the bully in Washington. This is not how you stand up for New York ratepayers, let alone our children and grandchildren who will be saddled with the true cost of this folly. Governor Hochul must put a stop to this nonsense."