Trump Wants LNG Pipeline Project Completed—But States Want None Of It

A dispute over a proposed 124-mile natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to upstate New York is shaping up to be one of the most consequential energy battles of the early Trump administration, pitting the White House against state governments, landowners, and the courts, Avi Salzman reported for Barron’s Daily.

The Constitution Pipeline received federal approval in 2014 but was abandoned in 2020 after a legal fight over water permits in New York.

The Constitution Pipeline is emerging as a test of whether the federal government can override state-level environmental policies in pursuit of national energy goals. Trump has directed the oil and gas industry to “drill, baby, drill,” and is threatening lawsuits against state laws that limit fossil fuel use to combat climate change.

The pipeline—originally proposed in 2012 by energy giant Williams Cos. and three partners—would carry gas from Pennsylvania’s shale fields through New York and connect to New England markets via Albany.

It received federal approval in 2014 but was abandoned in 2020 after a legal fight over water permits in New York.

Now, Trump wants to revive the project. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says construction could begin this year, though how the administration might fast-track the project remains unclear. Protracted court battles are likely.

Governors in New York and New England are under pressure to lower energy prices, and pipelines could help.

The region lacks natural gas reserves and relies on six pipeline systems that bring fuel from Appalachia, the Gulf Coast, and Canada. Electricity in New England costs about 60% more than the national average. S&P Global estimates that new gas capacity could reduce prices by 17% to 27% annually.

Still, most New England states are committed to cutting carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy. New York has even banned gas hookups in new buildings starting in 2026.