US Department of Energy allocates $42M to revive Constitution Pipeline

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced up to $42 million in funding to advance the proposed 125-mile Constitution Pipeline, which would transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York and New England.

The funding is being provided through the Defense Production Act, invoking federal authority to strengthen industrial capabilities deemed essential to national defense. The allocation is intended to cover pre-construction and permitting activities, including environmental reviews, engineering, and site preparation. Officials stated the project aims to lower electricity and home heating costs while reducing the risk of blackouts during periods of high demand.

The Constitution Pipeline was originally approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2014 but was abandoned in 2020 after New York regulators denied a critical water-quality certification. The Trump administration has designated natural gas infrastructure as critical to national defense to bypass previous state-level opposition and improve regional energy security.