BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — As rising oil prices weigh on Americans with the ongoing conflict in Iran, a controversial natural gas pipeline project in Brooklyn is moving forward.

It is backed by the Trump Administration as a solution to both energy costs and national security concerns. The three cabinet secretaries were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony at Floyd Bennett Field.

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The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline, led by energy company Williams, is designed to deliver enough fracked gas to power approximately 2.3 million homes across Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island.

“An affordability crisis in New York stands alongside the global race for AI,” the Williams CEO said during the event. “The solution to both challenges is only possible by enhancing energy infrastructure like our Northeast Supply Enhancement project.”

Among those present was Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, a former Long Island Congressman.

“A big win for Long Islanders and New Yorkers,” Zeldin declared.

However, the project continues to face strong opposition from environmental groups. Protesters gathered just outside the groundbreaking ceremony, chanting “green jobs now” and voicing concerns about the pipeline’s environmental impact.

Critics argue that construction could disrupt sensitive underwater ecosystems near Staten Island and the Rockaways by dredging up contaminated sediment. There is also the risk of leaks that could threaten clean water supplies.

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Despite these concerns, the project has received key approvals. New York State signed off on the pipeline last year after a discussion between President Donald Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul.

The project is slated to be completed in late 2027, meaning utility bill relief could still be about two years off for New Yorkers.

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