In Cortlandt, New York, activists known as the “Montrose 9” headed to court Wednesday for blocking the construction yard of the Spectra Energy gas pipeline in November. Spectra Energy’s AIM pipeline would run only hundreds of feet from the aging Indian Point nuclear power plant, sparking concerns that a pipeline break could cause a catastrophic nuclear disaster that would threaten New York City. In court on Wednesday, activists pleaded the necessity defense—arguing their actions were necessary because of the threat of climate change.