By Matthew Fischetti
mfischetti@queensledger.com
National Grid submitted a letter to the Department of Environmental Conservation temporarily withdrawing their request for air permits, a necessary step in order to construct their controversial liquid natural gas vaporizers in Greenpoint.
As the Brooklyn Star has previously reported, the Public Service Commission, a state entity that regulates utilities throughout the state, previously denied National Grid’s request for rate hikes to cover the costs for their natural gas vaporizers based off of an independent consult’s report that said the project was not necessary until winter 2028/2029.
“Although National Grid disagrees with the analysis conducted by PA Consulting Group, INc. regarding the required in-service date for the Vaporizer 13/14 Project at the Greenpoint Energy Center (concluding the project is likely required by winter 2028/29) and the subsequent ORder issued by the Public Service Commission, The Brooklyn Union Gas company d/b/a National Grid NY is withdrawing the above-referenced permit application at this time,” the letter reads.
The letter continues to highlight that National Grid will resubmit an application at “some point in the future.”
The Department of Environmental Conservation previously delayed their decision regarding the air permits until the Public Service Commission issued their ruling.
National Grid Spokeswoman Karen Young declined to comment further on the decision.
During the public comment period, the Public Service commission noted the overwhelming community opposition to the proposed project.
“They’re welcome to try as much as they’d like,”Greenpoint Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher tweeted in response to the news. “Greenpoint won’t stop fighting them. And we’ll continue to win.”
