Brian Laird on WNYC, and now for our Health and Climate Tuesday section of the show for this week.

More on the climate side for this round.

New York State has set some of the most ambitious climate goals in the

country, yet two gas pipelines, anathema to the green energy movement, pipelines proposed by

the Williams Energy Company, are suddenly back on the table. One pipeline would run from New Jersey

through New York Harbor and into Far Rockaway. That one's called the

Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement Pipeline, N-E. And the other would run from Pennsylvania

into New York across about 125 miles of the southern tier, you know, that area upstate along

the Pennsylvania border. That's called the Constitution Pipeline. These pipelines, we should note,

have been rejected before. But after new talks between President Trump and Governor Hockel earlier this

year, they're now closer than ever to approval according to what we're seeing and on an expedited

timeline, no less, apparently. The project's backers say they would help meet downstate energy demand.

That would presumably be good for energy costs, which we all know from our utility bills have been rising.

Opponents warned they would saddle New York with all the ramifications of new fossil fuel infrastructure,

just as the state is legally bound by its own policies, signed, I believe,

by both Governor Hockel and then Governor Cuomo, to move toward renewables.

And beyond the climate math, there are concerns about the pipeline's impacts on New York Harbor

itself from construction dredging to long-term water quality.

So joining us to talk about what's at stake,

our New York State Senator, Liz Kruger,

chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

She represents Manhattan's East Side.

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