The transition of power from Gov. Eliot Spitzer to Lt. Gov. David Paterson means Long Island residents will have to wait even longer for a decision on Broadwater's liquefied natural gas barge proposal.

The controversial Broadwater decision is one of the first issues Paterson will have to deal with in his tenure as New York's governor. On Feb. 5, Spitzer gave a six-week delay on a decision that could have heavy ecological repercussions.

More delays could be on the way. Paterson will be the third governor in three years to weigh in on the project.

"I might actually ask for a little more time," said Paterson in his first press conference since Spitzer's resignation over a prostitution scandal.

Opponents of the plan say building a floating natural gas terminal on the Long Island Sound would harm the body of water's fragile ecosystem. Supporters say the project will save metropolitan New York residents almost $21 billion over the next 10 years and provide benefits for upstate New York as well.

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