Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is promoting a long-stalled natural gas pipeline project as a key solution to New York's high energy costs, saying it could save consumers billions of dollars.
In a video posted by the White House Rapid Response account, Burgum highlighted the 125-mile connector pipeline, which he said was permitted 12 years ago but then canceled by Democratic leadership in the state.
"It is one of the most obvious pieces of infrastructure that's missing in America. It was permitted 12 years ago, and then cancelled by the democratic leadership in the state. New Yorkers have been suffering under those higher costs for that entire 12 years," Burgum said.
Pipeline Renamed to Highlight Consumer Impact
Burgum said he is renaming the project the "New York affordability pipeline" to emphasize its potential impact on energy prices.
"Just building that would lower the prices for all New Yorkers and it ties into a system which would benefit everybody in New England," he said.
He estimated that consumers have faced billions in excess costs due to the pipeline's absence.
"It's estimated that billions of dollars of excess cost on consumers just last winter, billions with a B," Burgum said.
Shuttered Plant Shows the Cost of Blocked Energy
Burgum pointed to a power plant that had to shut down because there wasn't enough gas to run it, illustrating the real-world consequences of blocking the pipeline.
"This plant had to shut down because there wasn't gas to run it. I mean, this is why a 125 mile long, super short distance," Burgum said.
He noted that the pipeline is only 30 inches in diameter but could heat and power homes across the region, calling it "one of the most efficient" projects.
