NEW PALTZ – The New Paltz Village Board has gone on record urging the governor to deny the expansion of the Iroquois pipeline.
Deputy Mayor Alexandria Wojcik said the expansion of the line would be detrimental to the environment.
“We already know all the health impacts, environmental impacts, and we know that we are supposed to be completely off this natural gas infrastructure all together. So, why would we be expanding it when we are supposed to be moving toward this green energy future,” she asked.
Emily Skydel, a senior organizer with Food & Water Watch, said actions like the one taken by New Paltz carry weight in Albany.
“When local governments take a stand like the Village of New Paltz, it sends a really strong message to Governor Hochul and she has been known to be quite responsive to the concerns and demands of local municipalities,” she said.
If approved, this would double the amount of gas coming through the pipeline that crosses the Hudson River from Athens to Hudson and cuts through Columbia and Dutchess counties.
The village board adopted the resolution at its Wednesday night session.
