Assemblyman Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) is happy that Governor Cuomo has responded to the pleads of the helpless gas customers who were held hostages by National Grid. I commend Governor for showing true leadership in the crisis.

"The residents and small businesses were devastated by the decision of the greedy National Grid Gas Company. I am grateful that the NYS Public Service Commission has ordered National Grid to immediately connect over 1,100 residential and small business gas customers that were previously denied service unless the controversial new pipeline was approved by the state," said Colton.

"It was demonstrated in the press conference I held over a month ago, that neighborhood residents and businesses were suffering and threatened with the loss of their hard-earned family savings because of National Grid’s greed in seeking to perpetuate its antiquated business model of selling gas and failing to plan a smooth transition to clean renewable energy, which is the hope of the future. National Grid tried to hold New Yorkers hostage to its business shortsightedness by forcing approval of a pipeline which would cost $1 billion dollars, the construction of which National Grid was passing on to gas users as it quietly applied for more than a 15% gas rate increase. And worst, after getting New Yorkers to pay the cost of the construction of this controversial underwater pipeline, which raised serious environmental concerns, it was planning to use the pipeline to transport the excess gas, it hoped to control to other parts of the world such as Canada and other states, once New York converted to renewable energy sources. The Governor responded to the calls we made to order National Grid to stop denying gas to people in its exclusive supply area until it could prove it was unable to supply such gas and if National Grid could not meet its responsibility to supply such gas or was refusing to do so, we must look for other options or gas suppliers who could. The people of the State have won a crucial battle for the future of energy in New York," Colton stated.

"This week I attended a meeting where PSE&G another utility company, that supplies gas to Nassau and Suffolk counties have a much wiser business approach by promoting a transition to renewable energy sources and encouraging energy efficiency by aggressively offering free energy audits to its ratepayers to reduce energy use and costs in peak usage times. This is a good example of how other utility companies can work with the community. Smooth transition to clean renewable energy, where new jobs will be created so those holding jobs which may be antiquated will be offered a new green job at comparable salaries and that our water, air, and environment will be protected and safe. It is possible with good business planning and good faith in partnership with all the stakeholders in this area," Colton added.