Rockland County Becomes First NY County to Oppose Project Maple

 Resolution signals growing statewide pressure on Gov. Hochul to stop “Project Maple”

 The Rockland County Legislature has voted to formally oppose “Project Maple,” a fracked gas pipeline expansion proposed by Enbridge — becoming the first county in New York to do so. The resolution adds major weight to the growing grassroots push across the state urging Governor Hochul to stop the project and uphold New York’s climate commitments.

Project Maple would expand the capacity of the Algonquin Pipeline, which runs through the lower Hudson Valley, locking New York into decades of fossil fuel use just as the state’s climate law mandates sharp emissions reductions. Environmental activists  have also shared concerns that project could present  safety and public health risks for communities along the pipeline route.

 Notably, the project includes plans to expand the Stony Point compressor station which would increase emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, exacerbating air quality concerns in the region.

 Until now, resolutions opposing the project had come from towns and villages along the route — but Rockland’s countywide stance marks a significant escalation in public opposition.

 “Rockland County’s vote shows just how widespread the opposition to Project Maple has become,” said Melissa Hoffmann, Hudson Valley Organizer with Food & Water Watch. “This pipeline expansion would drag us backwards on climate and put communities across the region at risk. It’s time for Governor Hochul to listen to the people she was elected to serve and commit to stopping Project Maple.”

 “The expansion of this natural gas pipeline – Project Maple – is not necessary, will create dangerous pollution of air and land, harming people and wildlife, and is being opposed by several of the states this pipeline goes through,” said Jacqui Drechler, Valley Cottage resident and Food & Water Watch volunteer leader. “I personally want to thank the Rockland County Legislature for taking the lead – which you did against fracked wastewater use in Rockland, for the Save the Hudson bill against tritium dumping, for going against Veolia’s rate hike, most recently for the resolution on the Plastics and Packaging Reduction Act – and now, against a dirty pipeline expansion. You will be the first county in New York State to create and pass a resolution against Project Maple. This Legislature’s resolutions are so strong that they become the model other communities, municipalities, and counties use. My sister Jossie and I are proud to continue in our parents’ footsteps. And we are proud of our Legislature.”

“I am opposed to this because of the damage from the life cycle of infrastructure that pipelines perpetuate. The damage to our environment – air, water, earth – and damages to all life,” said Chief Dwaine Perry of Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation. “We, the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation, have stood against pipelines before, and we stand against Project Maple now. I applaud the Rockland County Legislature for their resolution against the Project Maple pipeline expansion.”