ORANGEBURG — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin met with labor leaders and small-business owners Sunday to discuss energy costs, job creation and natural gas infrastructure.

Zeldin, who was in Rockland County to support Rep. Michael Lawler’s (R, NY-17) campaign against , heard from labor representatives who called for expanding energy sources they said could create jobs and lower utility bills in New York.

Among the participants was Dan Ortega, president of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, an organization that supports the proposed Constitution Pipeline.

The pipeline would transport natural gas from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus and Utica shale regions to markets in New York and New England. Supporters say it could supply enough natural gas to meet the daily energy needs of approximately 3 million homes.

A Standard & Poor’s study cited by supporters estimated that the pipeline could save consumers $165 million annually in energy costs.

“Other states have figured out how to have energy and environmental policies that are able to keep costs down with a portfolio that contains smart energy,” Zeldin said, referring to natural gas.

Zeldin said natural gas accounted for 47% of the nation’s energy use in 2025.

Lawler argued that New York’s energy policies have hindered job growth and discouraged manufacturers from operating in the state. He said New York relies heavily on natural gas but prohibits drilling for it within the state, leaving New Yorkers dependent on pipelines carrying gas from Pennsylvania.

Zeldin echoed Lawler’s criticism, saying New York’s restrictions have contributed to the state’s dependence on out-of-state energy supplies.



Original article
Add as a preferred source on Google