Government leaders request Spectra halt Algonquin pipeline project halfway through

On Friday, May 20 New York’s Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to immediately halt construction of the Spectra Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) Pipeline.

This call echoes an earlier February request from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to FERC to halt construction while the state undertakes a four agency, independent risk assessment; FERC rejected Governor Cuomo’s request. The AIM Pipeline is currently under construction through Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties; under the Hudson River; and within 105 feet of safety infrastructure for the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant.

“I have serious concerns with the Algonquin gas pipeline project because it poses a threat to the quality of life, environment, health and safety of residents across the Hudson Valley and New York State,” said NY State Senator Charles Schumer. Both senators expressed concerns that potential benefits of this project do not outweigh the risks. “I hope FERC listens to the concerns of all parties involved,” said NY State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Spectra said they have no plan to halt the project.

“Algonquin Gas Transmission resumed construction on the Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) project in April and will continue with its construction, in accordance with the FERC certificate, to meet the project’s critical construction timeframes and safely transport additional supplies of clean, reliable, domestic natural gas to heat the region’s homes and businesses beginning in November of this year,” Spectra’s Director of Stakeholder Outreach Marylee Hanley told community newspaper The Peekskill Post

Neither is Entergy concerned about Spectra’s proximity to their nuclear plant Indian Point.

“Multiple comprehensive technical analyses have been performed by engineering experts who determined there is no potential impact to Indian Point from a pipeline rupture,” Entergy Spokesman Jerry Nappi said. “The information has been accepted and approved by a federal agency with expertise in the matter.”