Unprecedented energy demand coupled with a need for an energy resource that is reliable and affordable has brought to the forefront the critical need for more pipelines. It’s the primary reason pipeline-skeptical leaders in New York and New England are rethinking their stance, as they recognize that pipelines are the safest, most efficient way to get energy to consumers – especially in regions where affordability and reliability are at risk.
New England and New York leaders are just the latest to recognize their anti-energy infrastructure stance has done nothing but create severe problems for consumers, with residents there paying the highest electricity prices in the continental U.S. In January, natural gas prices in parts of New England were nearly three times higher than the national average, a recurring problem in a region that doesn’t have enough energy infrastructure to meet demand.
It’s time for leaders, especially in Pennsylvania, to stop standing on the sidelines and embrace the transformative potential our abundant, home-grown energy can and should provide throughout the mid-Atlantic region. With abundant natural gas, a skilled workforce, and a strong industrial base, we’re uniquely positioned to lead – but only if our elected officials implement the proper policies that allow us to build.
Pipeline projects once considered dead – like Constitution, Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) and Millennium expansion – are back on the radar. Companies are ready to invest, but they need more than permits. They need consistent, forward-looking leadership that prioritizes infrastructure build-out as necessary for our energy security today and in the future.
Why the urgency? Because the Northeast is facing growing energy constraints. ISO New England has said there’s no more efficiency to squeeze from the existing pipeline network. PJM has consistently warned about the lack of new baseload generation and forecasted growing demand. Meanwhile, winters routinely send gas prices soaring.
This isn’t just a cost issue – it’s a reliability crisis. Families shouldn’t have to wonder if they’ll be able to heat their homes or keep the power on. Without the infrastructure to move our energy where it’s needed most, Americans suffer the consequences.
“Addressing the increased demand for electricity requires a two-pronged strategy. For New York, it means ending the ban on fracking. For New York and New Jersey, it means allowing the construction of new pipelines. Doing so would deliver much-needed relief to consumers throughout the region, especially those with low incomes, and promote economic growth,” New Jersey labor leader Mark Longo wrote in the Wall Street Journal.
He’s right. Our skilled union workers, ratepayers, and small businesses need an energy policy grounded in reality, not ideology.
But Pennsylvania shouldn’t wait on Washington or Albany or any of the New England states. We should lead. That means backing infrastructure projects not just with words, but with action. Approving permits in predictable timeframes that move at the speed of business as well as being an advocate for Pennsylvania natural gas, along with the workers and consumers who depend upon it.
Let’s stop treating infrastructure like a wedge issue and start treating it like the foundation of a modern society and growing economy. It’s time to “Build, Baby, Build” – because keeping the lights and heat on should never be up for debate.
