Energy Department to put up to $42 million into proposed Constitution Pipeline
The U.S. Department of Energy said it will use Defense Production Act Title III money to advance a proposed 125-mile natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York.
AI illustrationThe U.S. Department of Energy said it will use up to $42 million in Defense Production Act Title III funding to help develop the Constitution Pipeline, a proposed 125-mile natural gas line running from Pennsylvania to New York.
The project belongs to Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC. According to the department, it will carry natural gas to markets across the Northeast that now have limited access to the fuel. The department said the project will also dramatically lower electricity and home heating costs in the region, and that using its Defense Production Act authorities helps strengthen the security of the national energy system and the defense industrial base.
The money is aimed at eligible pre-construction and permitting work needed to move the project forward. Once permits are completed, it is also meant to support the deployment of complementary natural gas infrastructure. The department said these activities may include environmental reviews and assessments, engineering and site-preparation work, and other costs tied to obtaining required regulatory approvals.
The department said $1 billion in federal funding has been appropriated for energy-related projects deemed critical to national security under the Working Families Tax Cut. It added that Presidential Determination No. 2026-12 identifies natural gas pipelines, processing and storage as essential to national defense.
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said tens of millions of Americans have limited access to natural gas because of a lack of pipeline infrastructure. He said the pipeline will also reduce the risk of blackouts during periods of peak electricity demand.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who chairs the National Energy Dominance Council, said the investment in New York will help deliver reliable, secure energy and save families across the Northeast billions of dollars.