The U.S. Department of Energy said on October 19, 2026 that it will use up to $42 million in Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III funding to advance a proposed 125-mile natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York. The project belongs to Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC.
DOE says the line will carry natural gas to Northeast markets that currently have limited access to the fuel. The department also says the project will lower electricity and home heating costs across the region.
What the money pays for
The DPA funding is earmarked for eligible pre-construction and permitting work. DOE lists environmental reviews and assessments, engineering and site preparation among the activities that may qualify, along with other costs tied to securing regulatory approvals. Once permits are complete, the money can also go toward complementary natural gas infrastructure.
Where the funding comes from
DOE ties the award to $1 billion in federal funding appropriated through the Working Families Tax Cut for energy-related projects deemed critical to national security. Presidential Determination No. 2026-12 identifies natural gas pipelines, processing and storage as essential to national defense, which is the basis for using DPA authorities here. DOE says that use helps secure the nation's energy system and its defense industrial base.
Official statements
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said tens of millions of Americans have limited access to natural gas because of a lack of pipeline infrastructure. He said the project would reduce the risk of blackouts during periods of peak electricity demand and benefit New York and New England.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also chairs the National Energy Dominance Council, said the investment would help deliver reliable energy and save Northeast families billions of dollars. Both officials framed the award as part of President Trump's commitment to affordable, reliable and secure energy.
