A groundbreaking ceremony took place in New York City on Tuesday for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Pipeline, which will transport natural gas from Pennsylvania up to New York City and Long Island. Attending the ceremony was Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

The pipeline, which is on track to be in service by the fourth quarter of 2027, is an expansion of the Williams Companies’ Transco pipeline system that stretches across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. It is expected to provide enough energy to serve around 2.3 million homes. The administration is also seeking approval for the Constitution Pipeline, which would stretch into New England.

Speaking with Fox News, Zeldin said that New Yorkers “have been talking about the need for more natural gas” for a “long time.” He said that Trump made getting the NESE Pipeline “over the finish line” a “top priority” when he first sat down with the National Energy Dominance Council upon retaking office.

He said regarding the potential New England expansion, “We have been advocating for another pipeline, called Constitution Pipeline, to get built, to deliver natural gas from Pennsylvania to New England. President Trump is a builder. He wants to build pipelines all across America. Nessie should be the start. It shouldn’t just be a one-and-done, but this is a pretty big one to celebrate.”

Burgum said in a statement, “While China has outpaced American electricity production, past administrations put our energy and national security at risk by burying America’s Balance Sheet under red tape. Under President Donald J. Trump, we’re reversing course with projects like the NESE pipeline to unleash American Energy Dominance, lower costs for American consumers, and restore a strong, reliable grid. This project alone is expected to lower electricity bills by $6 billion over the next 15 years and stimulate up to $1.8 billion in economic development. That’s a huge win for American families!”

Wright said, “For decades, poor political choices obstructed the building of energy infrastructure, leading to higher energy costs for millions of Americans. President Trump promised to lower energy costs and to get America building again—that is exactly what the groundbreaking of the NESE pipeline will accomplish. This project is a win-win: natural gas is a reliable, low-cost, clean burning option for New Yorkers to heat and power their homes and businesses. President Trump, Secretary Burgum, Administrator Zeldin and I will continue fighting to build more energy infrastructure so that all Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure American energy.”