Gov. Andrew Cuomo is showing he’ll use his extraordinary powers under last year’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act just as we feared — to limit New York’s supplies of affordable energy.
The law lets the gov use state agencies to take almost any step in the name of ending greenhouse-gas emissions. And now the Department of Environmental Conservation has cited it while again blocking the proposed Williams Pipeline to bring natural gas from New Jersey to Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.
“The project is inconsistent” with the climate act, DEC sniffed. (It also claimed to fear water pollution from laying the pipeline.)
And never mind if more greenhouse gases wind up being emitted as a result — because gas has to be trucked in, or consumers are forced to rely on dirtier sources.
The law also lets the gov ram through “wind farms” over local objections, block construction projects unless they, say, adopt non-carbon-based heating systems and more.
Bottom line: Even when the COVID-19 crisis ends, Cuomo will retain dictatorial powers far beyond those enjoyed by any past governor.