HBRA NEWS Attention: Builders in Westchester County Natural Gas Moratorium Here are answers to the most common questions about the moratorium. 1.Why do we need a moratorium? We’ve made great strides in our efforts to help New York State meet its clean-energy goals, largely due to customers switching from heating oil to natural gas. As we continue to pursue innovative fuel alternatives, non-pipeline solutions, and geothermal projects, natural gas has allowed a smooth transition to more renewables and a cleaner energy grid. The demand for natural gas, however, is outpacing its availability due to pipeline constraints in a portion of our service area. We made every effort to explore alternatives to avoid a moratorium on new natural gas connections. While we are advancing new solutions— including substantial reductions in usage by existing customers and deploying compressed or renewable natural gas—we have not currently identified enough to meet growing natural gas demand. We will continue to investigate pipeline projects that could meet New York’s requirements. 2.Is the moratorium only for Westchester? Will it affect New York City? The moratorium is for most of Westchester County. There are municipalities at the northern border of our service territory that are not affected because those municipalities are served by a different pipeline. See a map of the areas affected. We will continue to accept new gas customer applications in New York City. We will continually monitor increases in demand and our ability to meet that demand with traditional supplies or clean alternatives in our New York City gas service area. 3.How long will the moratorium last? The moratorium will remain in effect until sufficient supply is available to meet new demand. That can be through additional nonpipeline alternatives, or a pipeline project that meets federal and local requirements. We’re encouraging customers explore long-term alternatives to natural gas for heating, hot water, laundry, and cooking needs. 4.There is plenty of natural gas in the United States. Why can’t we get it in New York? Although natural gas supplies are plentiful in the United States, transporting it to our service area is restricted by the lack of adequate pipelines to serve growing demand. The last new pipeline to our service territory went into service in 2013. Read More 16 HBRA of Fairfield County | JANUARY 2019
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