Two energy companies’ bid to construct a liquefied-natural-gas terminal in the Long Island Sound effectively died Thursday as New York Gov. David Paterson announced he would not back the project because it violates a state environmental regulation.

At a press conference held on the shore of the Sound, Paterson said the project, which “did not pass the test” for a environmentally stable Long Island Sound, violates New York’s Coastal Zone Management Act. Paterson’s ruling, which came two days before the deadline set for New York by the federal government, follows a decision three weeks ago by the Federal Energy Regulation Committee to allow the terminal to go forward.

The announcement came as a relief to many Connecticut officials, who for months were only able to air their opposition from the sidelines. Since the terminal is by law in New York waters — it just 9 miles away from Wading River, N.Y., while 10 miles from New Haven — the Empire State had jurisdiction over the final decision.

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