The ongoing affordability crisis continues to take a toll on Long Islanders, and we need the power to combat that crisis.
Consistently growing costs for everything from rent and gas to food and medical coverage, combined with stagnant wage growth, have forced every New Yorker to do more with less, and it appears there’s no end in sight. Amid this economic strain, job growth, economic development and access to essential services are more important than ever, so working people can build their lives here and support their families.
Reliable energy is critical to ensuring future opportunities. To both meet the ever-growing demand for power and reach the state’s climate targets, we must adopt an “all-of-the-above” energy generation approach and smartly weigh the benefits of new energy projects. That includes new natural gas pipelines, one of which — the Northeast Supply Enhancement project — would address supply shortages that will strangle economic and job growth on Long Island, and be a threat to public safety if left unaddressed.
Keeping an open mind about the critical, enduring role of gas in New York’s energy mix as we continue scaling up renewable resources is the right approach — especially when so many New Yorkers feel pessimistic about their economic futures. An unhelpful, and untrue narrative has developed in recent years — that natural gas is going away. New York state will need natural gas for electric generation, to heat homes, and for commercial and industrial uses.
Electrification has its place. However, the concept that electricity could replace every molecule of gas is a noble idea but has never been a reality.
I am not alone in my assessment, the 65,000 hard-working skilled tradeswomen and tradesmen I represent share the state’s commitment to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions. I also believe that we can make progress toward achieving our clean energy goals while being pragmatic. That requires securing a diverse energy mix while keeping New Yorkers’ lights on, their energy affordable and reliable, and the prospects for long-term economic growth bright.
New York is on the precipice of an economic resurgence. Driven by billions in state and federal investments, high-tech growth and related construction in blue-collar communities across the state will create tens of thousands of good-paying permanent and temporary jobs for hardworking New Yorkers.
Efforts like the push to site a new data center at Brookhaven National Lab would be a boon for all Long Islanders, delivering construction and long-term tech jobs. Large-scale development drives investment in affordable housing, health care, education, and local businesses. Together, this will revitalize our members’ communities by generating new jobs, driving new tax revenues, and creating new access to affordable essential services and goods.
None of this happens without firm, reliable sources of affordable power. While electricity demand is predicted to nearly double in New York over the next two decades, the state isn’t adding enough new energy generation to accommodate these projected increases. In addition, significant investments are required in our transmission and distribution systems to accommodate increased power demand and protect against increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
Building out additional natural gas supply is essential to ensure we have the energy we need to fulfill our potential. Without reliable energy, companies will look to locate or grow elsewhere, and will take their jobs with them.
Our increased need for power comes at a sensitive time. Washington is intent on rolling back our clean energy transition, including the tax incentives that have proven critical to attracting investment and creating the jobs that will fuel New York’s green economy.
The state must do everything it can to insulate itself against these shockwaves.
Recent polling reveals New Yorkers generally support climate-friendly policies but are wary of how those policies will impact their wallets. In March, Siena College found that 81% of New Yorkers agree that the state should focus on both reducing costs and protecting the environment by using a combination of fossil fuels and renewable energy. Here on Long Island, nearly 40% of homes are still heated by fuel oil.
From Potsdam or Patchogue, New Yorkers deserve policies that enable them to support their families and build a future here. The options are simple: We can pursue pragmatic energy policies that will strengthen our communities or take a hardline stance that slows down job growth and undermines our ability to create a more affordable New York. The choice should be clear: Progress is better than stalled perfection.
It is possible to both address climate change while creating and preserving family-sustaining union jobs and lay the groundwork for the next phase of our long-term prosperity. Moving forward, the state must give all energy options that will help us achieve these goals a fair shake.
Matthew Aracich is the president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
