NYS DEC reversed three previous denials to approve the $1 billion Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline, which will run 23 miles underwater from Pennsylvania through New Jersey to Queens, providing natural gas capacity for 2.3 million homes in NYC, Long Island, and Staten Island. The approval marks New York's first new gas pipeline in over a decade and its largest fossil fuel expansion since the 2019 Climate Act, drawing both support from business groups citing affordability and opposition from environmental advocates citing climate concerns.

Port Washington resident Alec Bryan argues that Long Island's high electricity rates (24 cents per kilowatt hour) are being driven by liquefied natural gas export terminals that ship U.S. gas overseas to higher bidders rather than keeping it domestic. The opinion piece criticizes "permitting reform" efforts and the NESE pipeline project, advocating instead for affordable renewable energy sources like wind and solar to lower Long Island energy bills.

Long Island Federation of Labor President John Durso advocates for a balanced energy approach that combines renewable sources with reliable baseload power to meet Long Island's energy needs while creating union jobs. The opinion piece addresses the region's energy challenges and workforce development opportunities in the evolving energy sector.

A New York-based company received $65,000 recognition for developing innovative self-cleaning solar panel technology that could revolutionize solar installation maintenance and efficiency. The breakthrough technology addresses a key challenge in solar panel performance by automatically removing dust and debris that reduces energy output. The innovation has significant implications for solar construction projects throughout Long Island and Suffolk County, potentially reducing maintenance costs and improving long-term performance of commercial and residential solar installations.

Analysis reveals New York State is falling short of its aggressive climate goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, with implications for renewable energy construction projects and utility infrastructure development. The challenges include permitting delays, grid modernization needs, and rising utility costs that affect both residential and commercial building projects. The shortfall may require accelerated construction timelines for solar, wind, and energy storage projects across Long Island and the broader region. Source: insideclimatenews.org

The Islip Town Board voted unanimously to extend its moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS) for another 12 months, effectively halting a controversial lithium-ion battery storage facility proposed for an industrial park in Hauppauge. The 79-megawatt project faced strong opposition from local residents and the Hauppauge Fire Department over safety concerns. The moratorium extension prevents any new BESS construction permits while the state updates its regulatory guidelines for such facilities. Source: longisland.news12.com

A federal judge ruled Monday that construction can resume on the Revolution Wind offshore project, overturning the Trump administration's August halt order. The nearly complete $4 billion wind farm, located off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut, was 80% finished when work was stopped. The 704-megawatt project will power over 350,000 homes and represents significant opportunities for electrical contractors and construction workers in the offshore renewable energy sector. Source: stateline.org