U.S. Rep Nick Langworthy, R-23, center, speaks Thursday at the Jamestown Board of Utilities. Standing from left are Mayor Kim Ecklund, BPU Board Chairman Greg Anderson, BPU Transmission and Distribution Manager Chris Sellstrom, and County Executive PJ Wendel.

U.S. Rep Nick Langworthy, R-23, wants to make sure that there is more reliable energy for New York State and Western New York.

Langworthy Thursday toured the Samuel A. Carlson Generating Station, 92 Steele St., which generates electricity from natural gas for city homes.

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The tour comes after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its report on Winter Storm Elliott, which found New York State, in 2022, was dangerously close to a major tragedy and exposed New York State’s failing natural gas infrastructure.

“When winter storm Elliott hit the Northeast, it left thousands without power and tragically took the lives of 70 people across the entire northeastern United States and western New Yorkers were left without heat,” Langworthy said.

The congressman noted that the importance of reliable energy, during New York (state) winters, can’t be overstated.

“It (reliable energy) saves lives.”

Langworthy recently introduced the Energy Choice Act to block the actions of Governor Hochul and other Democrat-run states that are banning affordable, reliable natural gas that saves lives during winter storms, he said in a prepared statement.

He also said the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR1) is an all-inclusive measure which includes increasing domestic energy production, reforming the permitting process for all energy sectors, reversing the anti-energy policies by the Biden Administration, streaming energy infrastructure and exports, and boosting the production and processing of critical minerals.

He said the FERC report makes it clear that energy policies need to be changed so that the electric grid doesn’t fail during a storm.

Langworthy noted that Gov. Kathy Hochul and radicals in Albany continue to chip away at access to natural gas in New York state.

“Unfortunately, those in power and Albany, led by the governor would rather implement a green New Deal for New York, and create those policies than ensure New Yorkers are safe and have access have access to safe and dependable natural gas to heat their homes or natural gas to produce the electricity that heats their homes,” he said

He added that currently there is a ban on natural gas hookups in new construction which, he said, will be in the courts for some time to come. Political ideology, he noted, can’t trump practical solutions.

“Natural gas is the difference between life and death,” Langworthy said.