Albany

Gov. Andrew Cuomo can aim for his aggressive goals to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions in the state, or he can see a network of proposed new natural gas pipelines built. But he likely cannot do both.

The governor's target to cut state greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2030 is on a collision course with 10 major natural gas pipeline projects planned for the state, according to a study being released Tuesday by the national environmental group Earthworks and a clean energy not-for-profit with links to Cornell University.

Potential greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the projects — which if built would create 214 miles of new pipelines and infrastructure to bring gas to customers in New York, New England and Canada — would render the governor's goal virtually impossible, said Nadia Steinzor, author of the Earthworks report.

"Gov. Cuomo can either work to achieve his climate commitments or support new natural gas infrastructure, but not both," said Steinzor, who is community project manager for Earthworks. An international scientific consensus identifies greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion as the primary cause of man-made climate change.

If all planned pipelines were to be built, the only way the state likely could hit 2030 emissions goals would be for nearly all vehicles in the state to be replaced by electric models so petroleum use was cut by some 90 percent, she said, adding such a scenario is impossible.

State Department of Environmental Conservation officials said the report was delivered late Monday and is under review. "It's important to stress yet again that New York is adopting the nation's most aggressive program to combat climate change by taking action to mandate 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. These are not just words on a report but a requirement and action that New Yorkers expect," a DEC statement said.

The Earthworks study is based on a report by researchers from the California-based Physicians, Scientists and Engineers (PSE) for Healthy Energy, a not-for-profit group that was founded in 2010 by scientists at Cornell University to study the health and environmental issues with natural gas hydrofracking.

"The build-out and use of natural gas pipelines currently proposed across New York would put the state's 2030 goal ... virtually out of reach," said Elena Krieger, study co-author and director of PSE's Clean Energy Program.

One of the group's Cornell founders, Tony Ingraffea, published early studies on greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofracking, a drilling technique that involves the injection of a high-pressure mixture of water, chemicals and sand deep underground to release natural gas trapped in the rock.

The Earthworks/PSE analysis includes four small gas pipeline projects already under construction (totaling 3 miles), three large projects now on hold amid state review or resistance (182 miles) and three newer projects (29 miles) in planning phases before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Also included were estimated emissions from nine new or expanded compressor stations and five new regulator stations for these pipelines to handle gas.

The study estimates greenhouse gas emissions from several sources, including the burning of additional natural gas in the state brought in by new pipelines, leaks of greenhouse gases from the new lines, stations and other infrastructure, and greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofracking in neighboring Pennsylvania that then is delivered in New York.

All these factors for the 10 projects could represent about 31 million metric tons of additional greenhouse gases against the state's goals, which could torpedo Gov. Cuomo's goal to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2030, according to the PSE report.

Currently, state emissions are 13 percent below 1990 levels, and the Cuomo administration is pushing to expand use of solar and wind energy for the state's electric grid, as well as encouraging greater energy efficiency in buildings.

Greenhouse gas emissions in New York also have dropped this decade as the grid has rapidly reduced use of coal in power plants in favor of natural gas, which has significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal.

New York, which banned the natural gas drilling technique called hydrofracking in 2014, is seeing increasing shipments of hydrofracked gas from Pennsylvania, which allows the practice. The volume of natural gas coming into New York from Pennsylvania increased 700 percent from 2007 to 2016, although some of that gas continues on to be used in other states, according to the Earthworks report.

New York has blocked one of the studied pipeline projects — the 121-mile Constitution Pipeline — after the Department of Environmental Conservation refused to issue required water permits.

The energy company is taking its case to the U.S. Supreme Court. This line would connect Pennsylvania fracking fields to another major existing pipeline in Schoharie County.

Last fall, the state appealed a federal court ruling that blocked a state decision to stop another pipeline project included in the Earthworks/PSE study.

The DEC asked FERC to reconsider its decision that cleared the way for the 7.8-mile Millennium pipeline needed for a gas-fired 680-megawatt power plant in Orange County.

bnearing@timesunion.com