New York's utility regulators are pressing federal energy officials to walk away from the long-dormant Constitution Pipeline, arguing the project's original approval has expired and cannot simply be dusted off. The move intensifies a years-long fight over whether Williams Cos. can sidestep New York's water-quality review after shelving the project in 2020 and trying to bring it back last year. The 125‑mile proposal would move Pennsylvania natural gas into upstate New York and has been pitched as a way to bolster supplies for New England.
State urges FERC to scrap revival bid
In a recent filing at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, New York regulators urged the agency to "order the dismissal" of Williams' petition instead of reviving its old approvals, arguing that reissuing the certificate would short-circuit state environmental review, according to E&E News. The filing responds to a December petition from Constitution Pipeline Company that asks FERC to reissue a 2014 certificate that lapsed after the company shelved the project in 2020.
Attorney general turns up the heat
New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined the push, sending a Jan. 13 letter to FERC that urges the commission to "dismiss the underlying proceedings" and warns her office will pursue legal action if it does not, according to State Impact Center. The letter cites a 2021 Second Circuit mandate that vacated FERC's earlier approvals and waiver orders for the project and sent the dockets back to the agency with instructions to dismiss them.
What Williams wants from FERC
Constitution Pipeline Company filed its petition on Dec. 19, 2025, asking FERC to reissue the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for roughly 125 miles of 30‑inch pipe and associated facilities. The Federal Register notice for the dockets states the line would provide about 650,000 dekatherms per day to markets in New York and New England. The petition seeks authority to resurrect a project that Williams canceled in 2020 before reviving it last year, as previously reported by E&E News. The notice also set a late January deadline for motions to intervene. Williams has argued the pipeline would improve regional reliability and reduce heating costs, according to project materials from Williams.
Environmental groups push back
Environmental advocates counter that FERC does not have authority to reissue a vacated and lapsed Natural Gas Act certificate and say any attempt to do so would weaken New York's water-quality protections. Environmental Advocates NY labeled the revived petition "an attempt to short-circuit the law" and called on state officials to defend the permitting process, as detailed by Environmental Advocates NY. Riverkeeper organizations and other local groups have also mobilized, filing interventions and public comments after FERC reopened the dockets.
Why the courts matter
The clash centers on the Second Circuit's 2021 decision that wiped out FERC's 2014 certificate for the project and related waiver orders, sending the matters back with instructions to dismiss. New York argues that ruling still binds the commission. The letter from the attorney general, published by State Impact Center, reproduces the court's mandate and warns FERC that moving forward could invite fresh litigation by the state.
What to watch next
FERC must now decide whether to dismiss Constitution's petition or accept the filing and reopen the dockets, a choice that will likely trigger more interventions, additional filings and possible court challenges. The Federal Register notice explains how interested parties can submit protests, motions to intervene or comments and lays out the regulatory framework for the case. Whatever FERC chooses, state officials and pipeline opponents will be watching closely to see whether past court orders still block a federal restart of the project.
