Ahead of the first televised debate happening tomorrow, February 6, a growing number of candidates running for New York City Public Advocate have signed on to a pledge opposing the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) fracked gas pipeline.
The pledge is being circulated by the Stop the Williams Pipeline NY coalition and so far has been signed by Nomiki Konst, Jumaane Williams, Rafael Espinal, Eric Ulrich, Michael Blake and David Eisenbach.
The 23-mile pipeline proposed by Williams, an Oklahoma-based company, would transport fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania through New Jersey and New York Harbor to Rockaway. It would come as close as a mile to Staten Island and continue past Coney Island and other Brooklyn beaches to link up with two existing pipelines off the Rockaway shore.
"Rejecting dangerous fossil fuel projects like the Williams gas pipeline, and instead supporting clean, safer energy infrastructure should be a no-brainer for Public Advocate candidates," said Patrick Houston, the Climate and Inequality Campaigns Associate with New York Communities for Change. "Considering how vulnerable New York City is to extreme weather and flooding, it's difficult to seriously consider candidates who aren't ready to oppose polluting infrastructure that threatens our future."
The proposed pipeline has faced fierce opposition from New Yorkers who say the pipeline is unnecessary and poses significant risks to human and marine health as well as greatly contributing to climate change.
"It is vital that any person seeking to represent New Yorkers within such a powerful position as Public Advocate reflect the interests and concerns of regular New Yorkers. As a resident of Brooklyn and this planet, I demand that elected leaders firmly stand against projects and policies that further the interconnected crises of climate breakdown and deepening economic inequity, and stand for a just transition to a 100% renewable economy and energy system," said Annie Garneva, a member of the Stop the Williams Pipeline NY coalition. "The Williams pipeline and all fossil fuel infrastructure only bring destruction to our climate, health, safety and democracy; instead, our resources must be invested in wind, solar and geothermal power that is truly clean, sustainable and community-led."
CANDIDATE QUOTES:
"It's great that New York banned fracking, but we need to ban fracked gas power plants and stop using fracked gas in our buildings which is the largest cause of emissions in the largest city in the country," said Public Advocate candidate Nomiki Konst. "We need to stop using imported gas and ConEd and National Grid should use their resources not to update their pipes for fracked gas but to get off fracked gas and invest it in other forms of sustainable energy. It's the only way we'll be able to save our city."
"On what planet would anyone believe that expanding fossil fuel pipelines is a good idea? We have to send a clear message that the time of fossil fuels must end. Fossil fuels are yesterday's fuels. We need to be investing in clean, renewable energy that helps stop climate change," said Public Advocate candidate Rafael Espinal. "The Williams pipeline will not only be bad for local ecosystems, it will also be bad for the planet. New York should be leading the way with clean energy like solar on our buildings, not building more gas pipelines. Taking care of our planet means taking care of our city."
"I am firmly opposed to the Williams pipeline,"said Public Advocate candidate Michael Blake. "Fracking pollutes our air and water and increases the potential for oil spills. Instead of finding more gas and oil by harming the environment, we must invest in environment-friendly renewable energy and create new jobs for communities most affected by climate change."
"The name Williams should be associated with fighting for a Green New Deal, not a fortune 500 fracked gas pipeline corporation that wants to take big profits at our expense," said Public Advocate candidate Jumaane Williams. "As the People's Advocate, I will focus on renewable energy, opposing new fossil fuel pipelines and power plants, and pushing for good, union jobs to fight the climate crisis."
