Lynbrook village officials to host rally against National Grid gas moratorium

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Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach and village officials are hosting a rally against National Grid’s gas moratorium on Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. in Lynbrook’s shopping district, near Atlantic and Satuderman avenues.
In May, National Grid stopped processing new applications for gas service, including for homes, large and small businesses and development projects, after the state Department of Environmental Conservation rejected a water-quality permit application for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, which, as of now, cannot move forward.
The project sought to expand the existing Williams Transco natural-gas pipeline through New York City by 2020. The pipeline is a 10,000-mile-long interstate transmission system that transports much of the natural gas used in the Northeast.
Beach told the Herald in June that the moratorium has hindered new businesses from opening in the village. “We have new businesses ready to go, and they called for gas service, but National Grid won’t give them gas service,” he said. “We’re at a standstill.”
Wendy Ladd, National Grid’s strategic coordinator, told the Herald in June that she hoped the project would remain on schedule. “We currently are not processing applications for new and expanded firm natural gas service from residential, commercial and industrial customers until all permits are received and the project is allowed to proceed,” she said.

A flyer for the rally called it “the fight over natural gas,” and said, “the loser is you.”
“The Williams Pipeline project will carry much needed additional gas services to Long Island,” the flyer read. “National Grid said without the pipeline, there can be no new service. This means no new businesses, no new development and no upgrades from oil to gas. Stalling new employment and construction jobs, and stalling the Long Island economy.”
The flyer urges supporters to come down and let National Grid know that they will not be caught in the middle.