Think a new gas pipeline will magically fix New England’s energy bills? Think again! Experts are raising serious questions about whether the Constitution pipeline will actually deliver cheaper, more reliable power to the region. Is our energy future really dependent on more fossil fuels, or are we missing the bigger picture?

The proposed Constitution natural gas pipeline, despite renewed backing from the Trump administration, is unlikely to deliver on promises of more affordable or reliable electricity for New England, according to a consensus of energy experts. This ambitious infrastructure project, designed to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York, faces significant challenges and expert skepticism regarding its ability to genuinely alleviate the region’s long-standing energy dilemmas.

While environmental advocates continue to voice strong objections to expanding fossil fuels infrastructure in an era of climate consciousness, economic analyses also cast doubt on the pipeline’s benefits. Industry insiders and independent experts suggest that the pipeline will not significantly increase the flow of gas to New England power plants, and could even lead to elevated costs for both energy producers and consumers, contrary to popular narratives.

Jeremy McDiarmid, managing director of Advanced Energy United, highlights a critical disconnect. He points out that while demand for electricity is indeed growing, the assertion that natural gas will exert a substantial downward pressure on electricity prices and overall energy bills is simply not substantiated by available data. This perspective challenges the core economic argument often made for such projects.

The push to revive the Constitution pipeline gained momentum following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin’s op-ed, which championed the project as a solution to save New Englanders money. This advocacy aligns with a broader shift within the EPA, moving away from its traditional environmental protection mandate towards deregulation aimed at “unleashing American energy” and reducing costs, a policy direction that has sparked considerable debate.

The Constitution pipeline is not a new concept; it received federal approval in 2014 but stalled in 2016 when New York denied its water-quality certification, leading to years of legal battles. Energy development company Williams ultimately dropped the proposal in 2020. However, the project was resurrected following the Trump administration’s lifting of a stop-work order on an offshore wind project, reportedly as part of a deal involving New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul.

A primary contention among experts is that the pipeline would largely fail to bring substantial new gas into the region. Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association, explains that the Constitution pipeline terminates in Schoharie County, N.Y., connecting to existing pipes that already feed New England. The real bottleneck, he clarifies, lies within the “narrow and limited” infrastructure that transports gas into and around New England, not the supply reaching New York. Without plans to expand this crucial internal infrastructure, more gas arriving in New York does not translate to more accessible or cheaper gas for New England power plants, thus impacting future electricity prices.

Furthermore, several New England states are actively pursuing a comprehensive renewable transition away from fossil fuels. Massachusetts, for instance, has outlined plans for its gas utilities to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, while Maine has initiated investigations into the future of its gas utilities. These initiatives aim to reduce demand for natural gas in heating and appliances, which could potentially free up some supply for power generation, further questioning the long-term necessity of new gas infrastructure projects.

Even if an influx of gas were to occur, experts warn that natural gas prices are inherently volatile, influenced heavily by global events and market dynamics. This inherent instability means that consistent, long-term price reductions are unlikely, despite the appealing logic of increased supply. The region’s existing over-reliance on natural gas is already cited as a key factor in the volatile and skyrocketing electricity bills seen in recent years, reinforcing the need for alternative solutions.

Ultimately, advocates and energy strategists propose that a more effective and sustainable solution to both reliability and high electricity prices would involve reducing the region’s overall dependence on fossil fuels. Embracing diverse renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency are presented as viable pathways to a more resilient and economically stable New England energy future, moving beyond the limitations of traditional energy infrastructure debates.