[]NEW CITY – The Rockland County Legislature has voted to formally oppose “Project Maple,” a fracked gas pipeline expansion proposed by Enbridge, becoming the first county in the state to do so.
[]The resolution adds to the growing grassroots push urging Governor Hochul to stop the project. Environmental and community groups across the state have urged Hochul to reject all permits associated with the project and prevent any further fossil fuel buildout in the state.
[]“Rockland County’s vote shows just how widespread the opposition to Project Maple has become,” said Melissa Hoffmann, Hudson Valley Organizer with Food & Water Watch. “This pipeline expansion would drag us backwards on climate and put communities across the region at risk. It’s time for Governor Hochul to listen to the people she was elected to serve and commit to stopping Project Maple.”
[]Project Maple would expand the capacity of the Algonquin Pipeline, which runs through the lower Hudson Valley. Its opponents also said the project poses serious safety and public health risks for communities along the pipeline route.
[]“Project Maple” includes plans to expand the Stony Point compressor station in Rockland County, which would increase emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, exacerbating air quality concerns in the region.
[]“I am opposed to this because of the damage from the life cycle of infrastructure that pipelines perpetuate. The damage to our environment – air, water, earth – and damages to all life,” said Chief Dwaine Perry of Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation. “We, the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation, have stood against pipelines before, and we stand against Project Maple now. I applaud the Rockland County Legislature for their resolution against the Project Maple pipeline expansion.”
