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Passamaquoddy Bay & LNG
2006 July
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31 July 2006 |
Candidates open to LNG site: Wind power supported, survey finds — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The only candidate to contact Save Passamaquoddy Bay to learn about the LNG issues from our perspective was Green candidate Pat LaMarche, although our concerns weren't addressed in the newspaper article.
Candidates were asked whether they favored having an LNG plant in eastern Maine, and if they favor any of three active plans in particular.Gov. Baldacci, after initially backing LNG facilities here, has flipped to a non-committal approach, showing no responsible leadership on the issue, and has formed no statewide energy policy.
Apparently the other candidates don't really care what happens to the Way-Downeast economy and way of life. They have simply jumped into the pro-LNG pool head first, without looking, because it "sounds good" — without informing themselves on the issues. It will be no surprise when they come out of the pool with some enormous headaches.
The pro-LNG candidates show their intellectual disconnect with reality by opposing offshore drilling in order to "protect the scenic coastline," but supporting LNG terminals in Passamaquoddy Bay.
Man charged in connection with Grand Manan riot — CBC News New Brunswick |
MLA wants inquiry into Grand Manan riot — CBC News New Brunswick |
House torched, shots fired in Grand Manan riot — CBC News New Brunswick |
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Company Wants To Put LNG Tanks On Harbor Island — WCVB-TV, Boston, MA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: AES is the same company that is being sued by the Dominican Republic for creating an environmental disaster there, but FERC ignores a company's character when granting LNG permits in the United States. FERC has publicly stated on multiple occasions that they'd grant permits even to Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, and Charles Manson. Osama bin Laden also fits the same criteria. Does that make it easier for you to sleep at night?
Supplying demand for natural gas — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK
[T]he U.S. gas market is big and "there is ample room to support large volumes of LNG without radically depressing prices," Anthony Finizza, a consultant, told Alaska lawmakers last week. [Bold, red emphasis added.] (Jul 30)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This article substantiates how FERC's push for more LNG terminals is wrong-headed:
- Importing LNG will not reduce natural gas prices;
- The U.S. doesn't need boodles more LNG terminals. The existing terminals aren't even close to running at full capacity.
Bill To Govern LNG — Bahama Journal, Nassau, Bahamas
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Green Coast Related
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Solar power runs 'world's largest laundry' — AP, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX |
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Scaling a ladder to the scorching roof one recent morning, the 61-year-old beamed with pride as he showed off the 36 10-by-4-foot panels that supply his 24-hour laundry with hot water.
Benson first converted from natural gas to solar in 2001, two years after buying the laundry. The motivation, he says unapologetically, was pure dollars and cents. (Jul 30)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Chicago area isn't known for hot sunshine like southern states, so this model should encourage others in more northern climes to follow suit.
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27 July 2006 |
Grand Manan riot shows Canadians want crackdown on crime: Harper — CBC News New Brunswick
Harper referred to the Grand Manan incident four days after a group of about 40 residents burnt a house to the ground in the community of Castalia and beat up the occupants.The riot was attributed to a group of vigilantes who were responding to reports that drugs were being sold in the house. They allegedly marched on the house carrying guns, knives, and baseball bats. [Bold emphasis added.]
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Apparently, threats to acceptable way of life in the Fundy Isles aren't well tolerated. This introduces a new dimension to the security issues surrounding the proposed LNG freighter transit through Canadian waters.
Pipeline Pressure — BSR News, Bozeman, MT
The U.S. does not regulate separation distances between pipelines, between pipelines and buildings, or between pipelines and high-voltage electrical lines. [Bold & red emphasis added.] (Jul 26)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: If your property is near the Maritimes and Northeast natural gas pipeline route and your anxiety is building after reading the above, knowing that FERC and the U.S. Department of Transportation say that "public safety is their first concern" is of little comfort.
Romney says LNG needed, but not in Fall River — WRGB-TV, Albany, NY
Baltimore Mayor Opposes Sparrows Point LNG Proposal — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
Northern Star responds to LNG protests — Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
FERC head warns of natural gas woes — United Press International (UPI)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Let's get this straight: Importing more LNG will, according to industry proponents, bring the price of natural gas down. But, if natural gas storage is all filled up in the summer, when prices are cheapest, then we'll be paying "volatile" natural gas prices in the winter?
26 July 2006 |
Whale death fuels LNG debate — Telegraph Journal, Saint John, NB [Paid subscription required]
Whale's death a call to arms for LNG opponents — Telegraph Journal, Saint John, NB [Paid subscription required]
Body of dead right whale examined at Campobello — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Change of representation on county board and minutes of meetings irks Perry selectwoman — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME
Selectwoman Jeanne Guisinger and Planning Board chair Nancy Asante had held those two positions.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Setting the record straight: Guisinger and Asante are not opposed to appropriately-sited LNG terminals.
Senate vote could lead to drilling off Maine — Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Collins's stand is curious, since she has stated that LNG issues affecting the Passamaquoddy Bay fishery aren't within her sphere of responsibility.
North American LNG Import Terminals: Status of Proposed and Existing Facilities — Natural Gas Intelligence
In addition to the approved terminals, there are another 25 projects, with 27.75 Bcf/d of proposed peak sendout, on file with regulators in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Another 21 projects, with 17.3 Bcf/d of expected peak sendout, are in the planning stages. And at least 11 LNG projects have been canceled so far. [Bold, red emphasis added.]WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: LNG projects are dropping out, perhaps because they realize that LNG importation infrastructure for New England is already 400% over the capacity of the market. Watch for Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC, to appear soon on this dropout list.
Expert calls LNG terminal applications 'deficient' — Daily News, Longview, WA
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25 July 2006 |
Rare right whale found dead in Bay of Fundy — CBC News New Brunswick
The 25-tonne, nine-metre long whale was found Monday afternoon between the islands of Campobello and Grand Manan, said Jerry Conway, a marine mammal advisor with the department.He said the whale was towed to a beach in Campobello, where a necropsy was being performed Tuesday.
Conway said the whale was two or three years old, and may have been struck by a ship.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: LNG terminals in Passamaquoddy Bay, especially with Quoddy Bay LLC's proposed 180 ships per year (a ship coming or going nearly every day), more whale mortality can be expected.
Recall measure to face vote on Nov. 7 ballot: Perry's chairman of selectmen states opposition to initiative — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: At the July 13 FERC site visit to the proposed Quoddy Bay LLC site, Project Manager Brian Smith was asked if he didn't feel badly about the division among friends, family, and neighbors that his project had brought to the area. Smith stated "no," that he thought debate was good, confirming his insensitivity about the area's residents.
City fires back at Hess — Herald News, Fall River, MA
LNG proposal keeps moving — Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA
Blanco to get new LNG plan — Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA
Still at issue is a second condition Blanco attached to her veto.
LNG Announcement Expected Soon — KFDM-TV, Beaumont, TX
Russia blocks U.S. oil majors from bids — UPI, Washington Times, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: At the same time, the U.S. has invited Russia to own U.S. energy infrastructure, including LNG terminals. That's good for U.S. energy security?
BG in talks with Gazprom over supplying liquid gas to America — Telegraph, London, UK
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: ...Or, to own BG's import plants.
House Democrats push new energy plan — UPI, Washington Times, Washington, DC
24 July 2006 |
McMoran expects LNG decision by end of year — Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA
The proposed terminal facility, 38 miles east of Venice in the Gulf, could regasify 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, store up to 28 billion cubic feet and deliver up to 2.5 billion cubic feet a day. McMoran expects the Coast Guard to publish its environmental assessment in September, followed by a 45-day comment period and an ultimate decision near the end of 2006.
BP chief to step down — Washington Times, Washington, DC
A criminal investigation and grand jury inquiry is ongoing.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The BP chief falls on his sword, acknowledging a serious problem that even FERC refuses to recognize.
As FERC personnel have previously stated, FERC policy doesn't require LNG terminal developer or operator good character. FERC has literally — and incredibly — stated that they'd allow anyone to build, own, and operate an LNG terminal, including the likes of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, and Charles Manson, as long as the sociopaths follow FERC's rules. But that's the problem with FERC's logic: sociopaths and criminals don't follow society's rules.
Hopefully, BP's lack of safety and dealing in fraud will be a thing of the past once a new corporate leader is in place, despite FERC's lack of regulatory sensibility. Hopefully, Congress will legislate reasonable veracity and character requirements on FERC and on those regulated by FERC.
4 ton crude spill in Russia's Sakhalin — Washington Times, Washington, DC
The spill occurred Saturday, but the media was not informed of the event until Monday.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: If ever there were a case of gross environmental and social injustice committed against an indigenous population, Sakhalin Island is it. Thankfully for everyone in the Passamaquoddy Bay area — and although Quoddy Bay LLC, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and FERC are trampling on indigenous people's rights — the local LNG projects are dust and the misdeeds will cease.
Shell slips on Sakhalin ice, costs in bid to up reserves — Gulf Times, Doha, Qatar
22 July 2006 |
Boaters rally against LNG development — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Group visits planned LNG terminal sites — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: At the Port Safety Forum, Robert Godfrey, of Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance, gave a presentation on the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) LNG terminal siting safety standards, and how the proposed LNG terminals in Passamaquoddy Bay cannot meet those standards.
Godfrey also refuted a statement made by Downeast LNG's President Dean Girdis, who said that LNG terminals need protected harbors, which is why they chose Passamaquoddy Bay out of all the other possible locations along the New England Coast. Godfrey pointed out that the Excelerate Energy project 13 miles off the coast of Gloucester, Massachussetts, had just received its first approval from that state to site there offshore — not in a protected harbor — submerged buoy LNG terminal, and that their Gulf of Mexico offshore terminal offloaded LNG during the Katrina Hurricaine.
It should also be pointed out that the Canaport LNG terminal now under construction at Saint John, New Brunswick, is not in a protected harbor.
Girdis's statement was "blowing smoke" to justify Downeast LNG's poor siting location.
Downeast LNG: bay study not transparent — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Those remarks are to be expected from a company that didn't do their homework, using second-class methods — such as the deficient IMPLAN model — for their own studies.
Perry citizens' petition seeks recall provision — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Quoddy Bay LNG details resource reports — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC claims that their process is "open and public"; however, Resource Report #13 contains such things as thermal radiation hazard zones, something that the public has a great interest in, but FERC is keeping that information from the public.
Bridge bill blocks LNG — Herald News, Fall River, MA
State Sen. Joan Menard, D-Fall River, and state Rep. Robert Correia, D-Fall River, told The Herald News Friday morning that legislation they have created to restrict LNG tankers passed in both the House and Senate late Thursday night, with enactment of the bill expected on Monday.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It appears that Congress's attempt to give FERC superior LNG terminal siting authority over states has failed.
Hess: Providence-like blaze improbable scenario — Herald News, Fall River, MA
"LNG does not explode because it is not mixed with oxygen," project spokesman James Grasso said.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Hess spokesman James Grasso doesn't understand chemistry or physics, or he's simply "blowing smoke" at the public. Grasso states that "gasoline explodes, jet fuel explodes, oil explodes, and all other fuels explode, but LNG does not explode, expecially in unconfined areas."
"Earth to Grasso":
Just like LNG, none of the vapors from the fuels that Grasso mentions will explode without oxygen.LNG is not made up of pure methane, since no LNG liquifaction facility in the world makes pure-methane LNG. LNG contains other gasses, some of which are more volatile than methane. Some LNG contains a high enough percentage of other hydrocarbon gasses that the LNG is termed "hot."
LNG vapors can explode in unconfined areas when the LNG is "hot" (contains a large amount of non-methane hydrocarbons). See: "LNG and Public Safety Issues: Summarizing current knowledge about potential worst-case consequences of LNG spills onto water," by Jerry Havens, in the U.S. Coast Guard publication, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council: the Coast Guard Journal of Safety at Sea, Fall 2005 (PDF), page 29. U.S. Coast Guard-sponsored research proves that "hot" LNG vapors can explode, exploding the FERC & LNG industry's non-exploding-LNG myth.
Grasso's comments merely emphasize the need for Congress to require the LNG industry and FERC to be honest with the public.
A new effort to halt LNG — Gloucester County Times, Woodbury, NJ
The lures (and limits) of natural gas: LNG spurs debates — Mywesttexas
[S]ome European governments have been looking for ways to move away from gas altogether.
21 July 2006 |
Letter: Reasonable questions regarding LNG terminal [Letter to the editor] — Marblehead Reporter, Marblehead, MA
FERC approves Tennessee pipeline expansion, rejects Everett LNG expansion argument — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
Fire didn't threaten nearby LNG tank, officials say — Providence Journal, Providence, RI
The gasoline explosions at the Motiva terminal occurred on a pier just 970 feet from the 600,000-barrel storage tank that is nearly full of liquefied natural gas. (Jul 20)
Delaware says federal regulators erred in LNG decision — News Journal, Wilmington, DE
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC doesn't appear to be as "open and public" as claims to be.
Marine Resources OKs dredging for Gulf LNG — Mississippi Press, Biloxi, MS
4 coastal construction projects get approval — Clarion Ledger, Jackson, MS
Dr. Bethel says legal woes of AES have no bearing on Bahamas proposal — Bahama Journal, Nassau, Bahamas
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It looks like Bahamian government takes the same devil-may-care attitude as FERC does regarding the character of LNG developers and operating companies. FERC officials say they'd grant LNG terminal permits to the likes of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, and Charles Manson.
Federal agencies collaborate to expedite construction of Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline — Fossil Energy Techline, U.S. Dept. of Energy - Fossil Energy
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline will reduce the need for importation of LNG.
Canada LNG deals on roll — Petroleum News, Anchorage, AK
Government leaders endorse Gazprom, Petro-Canada’s deal in pushing LNG. (Jul 23 edition)
Local ports leery of LNG project — Daily News, Longview, WA
Proposed Canada-Russia LNG deal gets boost at G8 — Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON
But as Mr. Harper travelled to the G8 summit, he warned that Canada has little tolerance for "self-serving monopolistic political strategies," alluding to Russia's aggressive pursuit of what it refers to energy superpower status. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jul 17)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Prime Minister Harper's reservations regarding Russia's monopolistic business model is appropriate. Allowing Russia to put its grip on energy security in North America is a patently bad idea.
Observations - Rosneft rakes it in — BSRNews, Bozeman, MT
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: And yet, the U.S. Government is inviting Russia to own U.S. energy infrastructure, including LNG terminals. Exactly how does that fulfill the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and President Bush's stated goals of energy security for the United States?
14 July 2006 |
Opponents speak out during fed official's tour — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This FERC official site visit exemplified one more reason why the project won't happen: Quoddy Bay LLC project manager Brian Smith demonstrated an appalling lack of knowledge about his own project and his newly-entered industry, made several factually incorrect statements, made empty promises, and initially couldn't even find his tank storage site. He lead the entire vehicle caravan of visitors all the way to the southern dead end of the Old Eastport Road, requiring the caravan to turn around and drive all the way back to find the proper location.
Smith insisted that pure methane (methane — a.k.a. "natural gas" — is the fuel product in LNG) is what Quoddy Bay would be receiving from their supplier. He claimed that pure methane burns too "hot" for end users, and must have nitrogen added to make it less hot. Smith also referred to the gasses that make LNG hot as "inert." He stated that Quoddy Bay LLC would be receiving hot LNG, and so, would be adding nitrogen to the regasified LNG. When he was verbally backed into a corner by this writer because of his errors, he even asked if this writer would provide him with the correct information, if he were wrong.
Well, then...
...Quoddy Bay LLC Project Manager Brian Smith was as wrong as anyone could possibly be, and the correct information is provided below.
"Inert" gas does not burn. Propane, ethane, butane, as well as methane, are not inert. Nitrogen, however, is inert.
LNG is not delivered as pure methane, but contains other flammable gasses: ethane, propane, and butane. It is those other gasses in the LNG that can cause it to be hot, and therefore unacceptable to the pipeline and users. In fact, according to recognized LNG safety experts Prof. James Fay and Dr. Jerry Havens, and as demonstrated in tests conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, natural gas hotness can enable unconfined LNG vapor to explode — another fact that Smith insisted is untrue.
See: "LNG and Public Safety Issues: Summarizing current knowledge about potential worst-case consequences of LNG spills onto water," by Jerry Havens, in Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council: the Coast Guard Journal of Safety at Sea, Fall 2005 (PDF), page 29. This article information is also contained in the quotes from the California Public Utility Commission's filing with FERC, below. The article in the above 2005 U.S. Coast Guard publication indicates that unconfined "hot" LNG vapors can explode.
U.S. Coast Guard take note:
Since Smith volunteered that Quoddy Bay LLC intends to receive hot gas, then an unconfined gas vapor cloud from Quoddy Bay LLC's LNG tankers could explode. This must be taken into account during the Coast Guard's Waterway Suitability Study.Following are quotes from the California Public Utility Commission's 2005 October 4 filing with FERC (PDF, 1.7 MB), with the following quotes from U.S. Government-recognized LNG safety authority, Dr. Jerry Havens:
"[M]ixtures of methane with heavy components such as ethane and propane, when contained in concentrations greater than about 12-18%, are subject to high order explosions." — PDF page 25
"LNG is ... imported from some other locations with concentrations of heavier hydrocarbons as high as 15-20%. Such gas is termed “hot gas” in the industry because its calorific value (energy content) is higher than an equivalent volume of methane. Typical heavy hydrocarbon gases present in LNG are ethane and propane, but others are present as well.
"We know now that even unconfined vapor cloud explosions (UVCEs) cannot be dismissed for LNG spills if the gas contains significant amounts (say greater than about 12 to 18%, based on Coast Guard sponsored tests at China Lake in the Eighties) of gas components heavier than methane. Furthermore, enrichment in higher boiling point components of the liquid remaining as the LNG vaporizes can lead to vapor cloud concentrations that could pose a UVCE hazard, even if the concentration of the heavies in the liquid initially spilled do not. Since the LNG terminal proposed to be located in the POLB is planned to receive “hot gas”... questions of whether major releases of LNG at the terminal might pose an unconfined vapor cloud explosion hazard, with the attendant potential to initiate further cascading effects, remain highly relevant." — PDF page 57
Smith's awkward bungling at an official FERC event, in front of a FERC representative, the news media, and the public, convincingly demonstrated that Quoddy Bay LLC doesn't have the required competency to build or operate their proposed project.
Canadian opponents of Maine LNG terminals seek rapid action from Ottawa — CanadaEast.com
Janice Harvey of the Save Passamaquoddy Bay group says Prime Minister Stephen Harper has stated his opposition to the projects, but has yet to introduce regulations to stop them. (Jul 13)
Suffolk Moves to Ban Floating LNG Facilities — Northender, Oyster Bay, NY
FERC Orders Broadwater to Produce Documents in Response to FOIA Requests — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
U.S. attorney asked to stop LNG project — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD
LNG plant to pay taxes early — KLFY-TV, Lafayette, LA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The LNG industry and people, themselves, aren't necessarily bad. It's the siting process, greed, back room deals, and open season on anywhere and everywhere that's ugly.
USCG: San Pedro Bay Suitable for Vessel Transit to Long Beach Terminal — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 — MarineLink.com
Among the provisions in the legislation [is] the following:
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Act is unlikely to affect LNG import facility development. See: U.S.-Built LNG Vessels Unlikely Despite Bill.
12 July 2006 |
LNG fallout divides Perry town leaders — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
A recall ordinance petition, allegations of bogus signatures, questions about spending money not approved by the town and a selectman lashing out at a resident summed up a selectmen's meeting Monday night.
Citizens of Perry reconsidering recall procedures — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Several residents have suggested that LNG has split the town. (Jul 11)
LNG plan for site off Gloucester gets 1st ok — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Downeast LNG developer Dean Girdis's claims that Passamaquoddy Bay is the best location in all of New England. His claim is again shot full of holes. The Gloucester location is 13 miles offshore, with fewer security problems, lower construction cost, fewer navigation hazards, next to the market, and far away from the public.
In addition, the Gloucester LNG project will moot the need for terminals this far from the Boston-area demand. The LNG projects in Passamaquoddy Bay have no future other than as a money pit.
Governor signs law restricting LNG tankers from Narragansett Bay — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
Coast Guard officials say the law may prove illegal and could seek to block it.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is one good example of why FERC's dominant authority over states is abominable. States and communities should have the ability to protect people and assets, as well as the LNG cargo and personnel, from potential catastrophe.
Mustang Engineering to upgrade Trunkline LNG facility — OilOnline, Houston, TX
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Mustang's Smart Air Vaporization Process uses air, rather than burning gas (or using the heat from seawater) to reheat LNG into natural gas, eliminating a significant source of NOx pollution.
Significant NOx pollution is just one of the numerous unsavory attributes that Downeast LNG's Brian Smith promised to the Sunrise County Economic Council that his project would bring to the Passamaquoddy Bay area.
Delays may doom plans for Alaska gas pipeline — Seattle Times, Seattle, WA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: What's this! FERC has openly taken an advocacy position on this project. Doesn't FERC claim that their process is project-neutral?
Incidentally, BP is a partner in this project. BP is the company labeled as "lacking a corporate safety culture," due to its intentional safety violations that resulted in fatalities in their Texas City, TX, oil refinery explosion. BP is also under criminal investigation for illegally manipulating the natural gas market last winter, artificially raising natural gas prices.
FERC is totally unconcerned about the integrity of energy companies that it regulates.
This all fits with FERC's openness — as they have told us and the public — to permitting LNG facilities to the likes of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Charles Manson, or even, perhaps, Osama bin Laden.
US Welcomes Russian Investment in LNG Terminals — MosNews, Moscow, Russia
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Inviting Russia to own U.S. energy assets, including LNG import terminals? Exactly how will this improve U.S. energy security? How does this idea fit with the recent foreign-controlled port fiasco?
Where are Snowe, Collins, and Michaud on this issue? Where is Lou Dobbs? Where is 60 Minutes?
5 July 2006 |
FERC Announces Visit To Quoddy Bay's Proposed LNG Sites — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: We incourage all Save Passamaquoddy Bay supporters to attend this FERC event.
Canaport™ LNG reaches two key milestones: EPC contracts awarded and pipeline agreements reached — Irving Oil, Saint John, NB
Canaport™ LNG, the partnership between Repsol YPF and Irving Oil, today announced that it has awarded the on-shore and off-shore Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts and issued the final notice to proceed for the construction of the first new liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal on the East Coast of North America in decades. Also completed were agreements to transport natural gas from the Canaport LNG Terminal to markets in Canada and the Northeast US via the Brunswick Pipeline and an expansion of the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline system in the US.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Canaport's selection of engineers and contractors — all from outside New Brunswick, and some from outside of Canada — supports the Whole Bay Study's conclusion that LNG terminal construction jobs go to large companies with experience in LNG-related projects, not to local workers.
Downeast LNG's & Quoddy Bay LLC's promises that similar jobs for the proposed Passamaquoddy Bay-area LNG proposed projects will go to local and state workers is simply "blowing smoke," in order to win public support and to obscure the truth.
Proposed LNG Storage Facility Under Fire — Suffolk Life, Riverhead, NY
LNG in the open [Editorial] — Providence Journal, Providence, RI
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Likewise, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of the Interior should not have, behind closed doors, illegally passed their statutory Indian trust obligations over to FERC — an agency that has no such obligation — regarding the Quoddy Bay LLC project at Split Rock in Sipayik (Pleasant Point). With all the additional show-killing obstacles in their way, Quoddy Bay LLC's project has no hope of completion.
Governor asks state Energy Department to work closely with feds on LNG process — Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
Who says LNG should go ahead? — Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Washington & Oregon have a similar situation to the Passamaquoddy Bay LNG proposals that include Maine and New Brunswick, Canada.
Report: Expanding Global LNG Market Will Draw More LNG to the United States — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The International Energy Agency is correct to "cover its behind" by the above qualifying statement, since the "spectacular" LNG market growth also means more foreign demand for natural gas consumption — by some really big energy consumers, like China and India That means that perhaps less, not more, LNG will come to the U.S.
LNG plant still leaking gas — ABC Australia
"But what appears to be happening here is that the Government bodies who are responsible for doing the monitoring and regulating, as so often happens, have become captured by the company." [Bold emphasis added.] (May 11)
2 July 2006 |
Concert raised over $1,300 towards fights against LNG — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
Five local teenagers — Luke Macdonald, Ashley Crichton, Graham Stephenson, Tynan Dunfield and Catrina Haun — were the brains behind the event which brought seven bands and about 200 people to the W.C. O'Neill Arena Saturday, May 27. (Jun 20)
Save Passamaquoddy Bay now incorporated as legal organization — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen
- Nigeria, 2005 — explosion, [natural gas pipeline supplying an LNG liquifaction facility];
- District Heights, MD, 2005 — house explosion; leak related to LNG quality, [according to gas utility company];
- Ghislenghien, Belgium, 2004 — explosion, natural gas [sendout] pipeline from LNG terminal;
- Trinidad and Tobago, 2004 — LNG facility gas turbine explosion;
- Skikda, Algeria, 2004 — fatal explosion at an LNG liquifaction facility [over 100 killed or injured];
- Bontang, Indonesia, 1983 — LNG plant fatal explosion;
- Cove Point, MD, 1979 — LNG import terminal fatal explosion [1 dead, 1 seriously injured];
- Staten Island LNG Tank Fire, 1973 — (40 killed)
- Montreal, east Quebec, 1972 — LNG peak-shaving plant explosion;
- Cleveland, Ohio, 1944 — fatal LNG peak-shaving tank explosion [128 dead, 225 injured].
—Sources: California Energy Commission and RodnReel.com
We recognize that some of the older above-mentioned catastrophes have resulted in improved safety technology and/or procedures by the industry and regulatory bodies; however, our concern is that, while the LNG industry claims that their future facilities and operations will be safe:
- LNG developers violate SIGTTO LNG-terminal-siting safety standards;
- FERC ignores those same SIGTTO safety standards;
- FERC says they don't care if LNG developers lie to the public;
- FERC says it would issue LNG terminal permits to the likes of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Charles Manson, and — by extension — Osama bin Laden.
The history of the LNG industry doesn't necessarily predict its future, especially when LNG developers and FERC continue down this careless and irresponsible path.
Senator Snowe, Senator Collins, and Representative Michaud — when will you stand up and protect Maine and U.S. citizens by authoring legislation that requires sensible FERC policy and regulations?
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1 July 2006 |
Getting real on LNG site [Editorial] — Boston Herald, Boston, MA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Massachusetts area needs energy, and LNG is one way to get it there. Siting LNG import facilities near the demand makes sense; however — and although the Boston Herald recognizes that there are some real risks that accompany LNG terminals — its befuddling that the newspaper editorial staff doesn't recognize the need to site terminals far enough away from people that people won't be harmed if a disaster occurs.
LNG company accuses R.I. government of stalling permits — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Energy Act of 2005 gave FERC supremecy over most state and local say in LNG terminal siting; however, the Act still left states with the ability to reject projects due to water and air environmental issues, as well as for reasons related to the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Apparently, Weaver's Cove Energy isn't satisfied with the additional advantages given to the natural gas industry, and thinks that all state and municipal rights should be abolished.
If Weaver's Cove Energy had adhered to LNG-industry terminal siting standards, published by SIGTTO, then they wouldn't be in their current predicament.
Western Canada pipelines close to hitting capacity — Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON
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