Activists and Elected Officials Gathered in Greenpoint to Talk About Shocking Proposed Price Hikes from National Grid

The coalition that stopped the completion of the North Brooklyn Pipeline is fighting to shut down a fracked gas “energy center” by 2030

Brooklyn, NY - On Thursday, January 18th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Greenpoint Library branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher joined activists from the No North Brooklyn Pipeline Alliance and Sane Energy Project to speak about National Grid’s proposed rate increases to pay for upgrades to the “Greenpoint Energy Center,” referred to as “287 Maspeth” by activists.

Photo credit: Andrea Karo

This facility sits on the historic land of the Mespeatches people and is currently owned by the UK-based corporation National Grid; the facility houses massive liquefied '\” natural” gas tanks. Last year, the No North Brooklyn Pipeline Alliance stopped the completion of National Grid's North Brooklyn fracked gas pipeline and turned back their request for new fracked gas vaporizers, which pose environmental risks. National Grid is asking for a half billion dollars to keep 287 Maspeth going—a major part of their 3.8 BILLION dollar request for investments in their gas system.

“The only thing worse than living near an aging fossil gas plant is being forced to pay for its expansion. In the age of increasing climate catastrophes and crushing utility bills, it’s past time to retire this facility and chart a new, cleaner, and greener direction for North Brooklyn.” - Assemblymember Emily Gallagher

If approved, National Grid’s proposal for $3.8 billion for gas infrastructure would increase an average residential bill by $33.84/month (+28.82%) for National Grid Customers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island and $34.79 (+30.69%)/month for Long Island customers.

Experts have testified that these investments are unnecessary and have prepared research studies showing how National Grid could develop an exemplary thermal energy network (TEN )in Brooklyn. Sane Energy believes that deploying TENs, wind, and solar represents clean and affordable solutions the state should use to meet its emission reduction targets. TENs enjoy support from the state legislature, Governor Hochul, and the NYS AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades.

"The notion that we must pay even higher energy bills in exchange for endangering our health, safety, and climate future is as laughable as it is unacceptable," said Senator Julia Salazar, whose district includes 287 Maspeth. "Just as the potential for a cleaner, greener energy alternative could hardly be riper, there is no excuse for failing to make the essential break from fossil fuels, including right here in North Brooklyn."

Community members declared that National Grid’s aging gas system should be retired, not replaced, and have rallied with the slogan “We Won’t Pay To Be Poisoned.”