De Blasio Calls For Withdrawal Of Controversial Brooklyn Pipeline

BROOKLYN, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio has come out against a controversial pipeline being put in North Brooklyn, marking a win for activists three years after construction began on the project.

The mayor released a statement on Thursday calling for National Grid to withdraw their North Brooklyn Pipeline project, which is being put into the ground to run fracked gas through Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

De Blasio's statement echoed activists, who have called the project — officially known as the Metropolitan Natural Gas Reliability Project — "environmental racism" given the impact it will have largely on low-income communities of color.

“Today, I am voicing my opposition to National Grid’s North Brooklyn Pipeline because we cannot justify the environmental impacts on the largely Black and Brown residents of Brooklyn associated with an unnecessary pipeline expansion," de Blasio said. "Racial and environmental justice go hand-in-hand, and National Grid has failed to clearly demonstrate that this pipeline is needed to keep New Yorkers warm and safe. I am calling on them to withdraw this project immediately."

Activists who have recently ramped up their opposition to the project embraced the mayor's stance on Thursday, despite the fact that it comes three years after construction began on the pipeline.

Construction began on the North Brooklyn Pipeline in 2017 and was nearing the end of its first stage when it was paused in November. National Grid agreed not to proceed to the next phase until a state review of the gas system plan, according to the company.

"This is a major battle win," one organizer Tweeted. "Let's bring this war to a full victory our #Brownsville, #BedStuy, #Bushwick, #Williamsburg, and #Greenpoint communities deserve!!!!!!"

National Grid has said the project will allow the gas supply to move around more safely and efficiently, but opponents argue it is an excuse to hike up prices for rate payers, specifically in minority communities.

National Grid is currently requesting $185 million in rate hikes to finish phases 4 and 5 of the pipeline. That price-tag is part of an estimated $236 million increase in revenue the company expects in 2021, or about $16.66 extra per month for the average residential customer, according to BK Reader.

The company contended Thursday that they are in line with New York State's clean energy goals and that the pipeline project is required to ensure their system works safely.

"We disagree with the assertion that any of our customers — particularly those in black and brown communities don't deserve to be warm and have heat," they said in a statement. "...We regularly invest in our communities and will continue that commitment every day."

"No North Brooklyn Pipeline," the group leading the charge against the project, said that "With the Mayor’s announcement, local, citywide and federal electeds are now united in opposition to this dangerous, racist pipeline."

New York City council members, state assembly members, state senators and other elected officials have similarly opposed the project.

The group said they will now set their sights on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They also pointed to an executive order signed by de Blasio earlier this year against fossil-fuel expansion as a potential means to end the project.

“So far National Grid has ignored the will of the people and continued construction, but New York City is united against their plans to lock us in to decades of raising our rates for more fossil fuels, pollution, and climate chaos for their private profit," co-founding member Kim Fraczek said. "We look forward to continuing our work with the Mayor’s office as we operationalize the Executive Order to end the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, like the LNG facility at the apex of the North Brooklyn Pipeline."