Lynbrook downtown businesses: National Grid won't turn on gas

Businesses and civic leaders rallied in Lynbrook Wednesday, claiming that National Grid is hurting their community.

Leaders say National Grid won't turn on the gas for businesses in the downtown area, despite the businesses spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to open.

Dominic Natoli, the owner of Il Pozzo Wine Bar and Kitchen, says after spending $700,000 over the course of a year and a half to renovate his building the gas-reliant appliances only work intermittently. He says when he asked National Grid for an upgrade to his meter, he was told by the utility that it couldn't.

Several storefronts slated to open underneath the train trestle say they've been told by National Grid that they won't hook up the gas lines at all.

The utility says it doesn't have enough gas to provide to new customers after a proposed gas pipeline from New Jersey that would serve New York City and Long Island failed to receive the approval of state regulators, who cited environmental concerns. Community advocates say the stalemate is hurting Long Island's downtown communities.

Experts say that National Grid's issue with gas isn't just happening across Nassau and Suffolk - but is affecting the entire downstate region.

News 12 reached out to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office for comment. A spokesperson for the Department of Public Service, which regulates the state's utility companies, tells News 12, "State agencies stand ready to work with stakeholders to ensure that every building will have access to safe, affordable, reliable, and sustainable heat under any circumstance."

A spokesperson from National Grid tells News 12, "We continue to work with all parties to gain approval for this critical gas supply."