Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the role of the agency in growing the economy by cutting regulations and easing permitting, while also protecting air, land and water, on Friday.

Zeldin, a former Shirley congressman, outlined his priorities during a breakfast discussion in Woodbury held by the Long Island Association, a nonprofit business organization. Zeldin called for more research into PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” expanding natural gas in New York and Long Island and making Long Island a hub for the artificial intelligence industry.

“We need to both protect the environment and grow the economy. We can’t just choose. We can’t just sit back and decide, OK, which one do we want,” Zeldin said. “We have to approach the challenges in this country by asking ourselves, is there a way to work through this challenge where we are both protecting the environment and growing the economy?”

Zeldin said there were no discussions to lower water quality standards for certain chemicals, but he said he wanted more polluters to pay for cleanup efforts.

Zeldin said he would continue to carry out the EPA’s “core statutory obligations” of protecting clean air, land and water while “unleashing energy dominance.”

Zeldin said Trump will not approve any new offshore wind permits, although Long Island has several offshore wind permits still pending.

He also called for expansion of natural gas, through the Constitutional Pipeline, a 124-mile liquefied natural gas pipeline that would run from Pennsylvania to New York, as the administration negotiates with Gov. Kathy Hochul. And he reiterated his intention to cancel $20 billion in grants intended to curb climate change, claiming that the program has been “riddled” with fraud and abuse, and grants for environmental justice projects.

Hochul said Thursday that there have been discussions regarding the pipeline and she is also looking at nuclear energy and offshore wind.

“I’m looking at continuing our offshore wind. I made a strong case for this with the President of the United States,” Hochul said. “I want to keep offshore wind going. I want to re-up a lot more solar projects, focus on hydro, focus on battery storage — that’s what our energy strategy is right now.”

New York State banned natural gas extraction, or fracking, as well as new natural gas hookups for new construction.

Zeldin said energy policy is a “source of disagreement” between the Trump administration and New York state. “We should tap into more innovation, but it’s important for our national security, our economy and our environment, to be in charge of our own destiny as it relates to tapping into energy, as opposed to relying on foreign sources.”

Zeldin was met with about 100 protesters Friday morning outside Crest Hollow Country Club, who held signs and chanted “Lee Zeldin, show you care, protect our water, protect our air.”

The protest was led by several groups including Food and Water Watch and the Long Island Clean Air Water and Soil.

“We’re here to send a message to Lee Zeldin that his job is to protect people and not polluters,” organizer Eric Weitman said. “His job is to protect the people of Long Island, the people of New York, the people of the nation, the people of the world, and not the polluters.”

Zeldin highlighted canceling $22 billion in EPA grants since taking office under the second administration of President Donald Trump. He noted $20 billion was included in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, passed under President Biden in 2022.

Zeldin has previously said he plans to cut 65% of the EPA budget and is seeking to fire thousands of EPA scientists and other employees. He said Friday that he was working with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to determine the right number of employees in the EPA.

The EPA described the funding this week as “DEI grants and contracts … doled out to activist groups that put ideological agendas ahead of directing action.”

-With Tracy Tullis

Check back for updates on this developing story.

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.