The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) recently submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in support of the proposed Constitution Pipeline and Wright Interconnect projects, being developed by NGA members Williams Companies and Iroquois Gas Transmission System.

In its filing, NGA emphasized the critical role that additional interstate natural gas infrastructure can play in maintaining safe, reliable, and affordable energy service across the Northeast—particularly during periods of sustained cold weather.

A Clear Lesson from Winter 2026

NGA’s comments point to the experience of Winter Storm Fern, which tested the region’s energy systems and highlighted a persistent challenge: much of the Northeast’s natural gas infrastructure is operating at or near its limits during peak demand.

While the region avoided widespread outages, the event underscored how narrow the margin for error can be during prolonged cold snaps—and how dependent both heating and electric systems are on reliable natural gas supply.

Why Additional Capacity Matters

The Constitution Pipeline and Wright Interconnect projects are designed to increase access to natural gas supply from nearby production regions, helping to address well-documented winter constraints.

NGA’s filing highlights several key benefits of additional pipeline capacity:

• Improved reliability during peak winter demand
• Greater system flexibility during extended cold weather events
• Enhanced affordability by reducing exposure to price spikes
• Lower emissions by reducing reliance on higher-emitting fuels like oil during constrained periods

By expanding deliverability into New York and New England, projects like these can help ensure that homes, businesses, and critical facilities continue to receive dependable energy when it’s needed most.

Supporting a More Resilient Energy System

More broadly, NGA reiterated its support for the responsible development of additional natural gas infrastructure in the Northeast. As recent winters have shown, constrained deliverability is not a hypothetical concern—it is a recurring operational reality during periods of peak demand.

FERC’s continued leadership in reviewing and, where appropriate, advancing critical infrastructure projects will play an important role in strengthening the region’s energy resilience, reliability, and affordability.

You can read our complete comments here.