Top
LNG developer: U.S. won't back down on ship passage issue — MaineToday.com
Dean Girdis, the president of Washington D.C.-based Downeast LNG, said would set a dangerous international precedent if Canada is allowed to stop the Maine LNG projects by refusing to allow tankers to cross Canadian waters off southern New Brunswick.
...Girdis says that if Canada refuses access, it would establish a precedent in Maritime law that would trigger major international problems in places like the Strait of Bahrain and the Taiwan Strait.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Foisting risk on unwilling Canadian citizens, causing harm to Canada's fishing and tourism economies, and adding risk to endangered marine species — would "set a dangerous international precedent."]
LNG developers face Canadian hostility: Campobello refuses presentation — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Three information sessions by Quoddy Bay LNG concerning its plans to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Split Rock at Pleasant Point and a storage facility in Perry were met with a range of responses — from strong hostility on Campobello Island to questions about ship transit and vehicle traffic in Perry and queries about the pipeline in Charlotte. Following the meetings, Quoddy Bay LLC, the company developing the $500 million Quoddy Bay LNG facility, described the open houses as a success.(Feb 24)
St. Andrews voices defiance — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
The presentations of Dean Girdis, president of Downeast LNG, and Rob Wyatt, Downeast LNG vice president, drew strong statements of opposition and at times much laughter from the large group in attendance at the meeting held at the Algonquin Hotel. A statement by Girdis that they would build a facility that would blend in with the community of Robbinston and would not be an eyesore to St. Andrews brought an outburst of laughter. [Bold emphasis added.] (Feb 24)
FERC outlines pre-filing process for LNG — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
As part of the pre-filing process, Quoddy Bay held open houses in several communities last week. Questioned about requirements concerning the open houses, Kopka said, "FERC just requires that they have public outreach. We don't tell them how to do it." Questioned about the veracity of some of the statements made by Quoddy Bay representatives, Kopka said, "We don't require veracity." [Bold and red emphasis added.] (Feb 24)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The FERC doesn't care how developers conduct their FERC-required "open houses," or if the developers are truthful ("We don't require veracity"). This confirms that FERC's so-called "concerns" for public interest and safety are disingenuous.]
Mayor gives PM ultimatum — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
"We have consistently stated from the outset that we are opposed to the transportation of LNG tankers through Head Harbour Passage. During the election campaign the Prime Minister stated that we will use every diplomatic and legal means as a government to defend our position, our communities, our citizens, our environment and our economy. We are committed to this position."
Robbinston Planning Board approves LNG facility permits — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
The Robbinston Planning Board unanimously approved an application for land use and development code permits for the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility to be constructed at Mill Cove. (Feb 24)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Acquiring these permits don't provide Downeast LNG with any more ability to overcome the numerous fatal obstacles standing in their way.]
Quoddy Bay LLC: plans haven't changed — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
According to [Cary Weston, the current public relations spokesperson for Quoddy Bay], the project first proposed by Quoddy Bay LLC at Gleason's Cove involved an output of approximately 0.5 billion cubic feet to 1 billion cubic feet per day. The Gleason's Cove project was scrapped following a vote concerning the proposal in the Town of Perry in March 2005. The Split Rock facility plan filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on December 16, 2005, calls for a two-berth pier at Split Rock at Pleasant Point with an output of up to 2 billion cubic feet per day. It also calls for a pipeline connected to three storage tanks in Perry and another line that would pipe regasified LNG to the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline at Baileyville. (Feb 24)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: No matter how much spin is spun, the project continues to have a Bureau of Indian Affairs lawsuit in its way and — like Girdis' Downeast LNG project — several other insurmountable problems.]
Judge: LNG votes improperly posted — Daily News, Galveston, TX
Judge John Ellisor ruled Tuesday that both the Wharves Board of Trustees and the Galveston City Council initially violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by not properly posting meetings in which they approved the deal.
Top
Having a bigger LNG terminal not necessarily bad for state [Editorial] — Portland Press-Herald
Quoddy Bay is also seeking a partner in Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean island nation that supplies 60 percent of the LNG imported to the United States. While some have expressed concern over having a foreign nation own part of the facility, such ownership could also help keep supplies constant.
Whether this plant or any other is right for Maine is for state and federal officials to decide, while paying close attention to local concerns.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Smiths of Quoddy Bay LLC have been proposing one absurd project after another (e.g., 8-mile-long undersea cryogenic LNG pipeline, then running it under US-1; placing an LNG terminal on a postage-stamp-size piece of land and running a cryogenic pipeline under or over a state highway, under or over a class SA waterway, and then under a local road). Part of the concern of seeing these proposed projects grow in size and absurdity is that the Smiths have no previous experience in the LNG industry. Proposing untested technology, as they are doing, should be a concern to everyone.
The Portland Press-Herald editorial staff would do well to conduct more research on the topic of Smiths' proposed LNG deal with Trinidad and Tobago. Especially in light of the conversations about homeland "insecurity" and port safety, the Press-Herald should know that Trinidad and Tobago has a large muslim criminal empire contingent — an organization called Jamat — one that attempted a 1990 July 27 coup against the Trinidad and Tobago government; not to mention the group Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (Islamic Front), with connections to al-Qaeda. This should provide enough concern for the Press-Herald to reverse its knee-jerk advocacy. (See http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369812)
The people around Casco Bay rejected an LNG facility because of the accompanying problems. The Press-Herald editorial staff would do well to research the full economic and cultural implications on other areas of Maine before advocating projects there. Remember, the Smiths say, "If the project is rejected in Passamaquoddy Bay, there are 25 other sites in Maine." Further, Quoddy Bay LLC doesn't have clear access to the land that they propose to use, due to a lawsuit in federal court against the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior.
The Press-Herald would also do well to fully comprehend the depth of local opposition and its impact on any decisions related to LNG projects. These projects are still in the very early planning stages, and no amount of LNG-developer public relations spin should be misunderstood as being anything more than just that. The reality is that, in part because of strong local opposition, none of the three proposed projects have a chance at completion.
If the Press-Herald editorial staff is truly interested in communicating the complete story, Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance invites them to come and see for themselves, meet with us, and learn more. The real stories are about federal lawsuits, international rejection, the Whole Bay in-depth impact study, fishing, and tourism in one of the most valuable natural resource areas in Maine.]
Ottawa gets deadline to say No to U.S. LNG projects near N.B. — Canada.com
"As a town, we have given [Canadian Prime Minister]Greg (Thompson) about 60 days from the day he was sworn in to have the prime minister say 'no' to LNG tankers officially," Craig said late last week.
"We're not putting any pressure on him now, but we will once those 60 days are up." (Feb 26)
‘This fight is winable’ — Herald News, Fall River, MA
Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. energized the crowd, assuring people that the city was going to win the battle against Hess LNG.
"They picked a community they thought they could push around," the mayor said. "They came in with their $3 million in tax revenue and thought we would accept. They are absolutely shocked down in New York. But the biggest shock will come when we win this fight with your help."
CLF Requests Supplemental EIS for Weaver's Cove, Predicting up to 6-Year Delay — LNG Law Blog, New York, NY
CLF notes that the "expected supply to the region of natural gas from Canadian sources [would exceed by] three (3) times the volume" proposed by Weaver's Cove.
Top
Quoddy Bay LNG project plan grows — Telegraph-Journal, NB
The project, estimated to cost between $500 million and $600 million, is much farther behind the Irving project and two other Maritime Canada projects already underway, and has only filed one of 13 required resource papers with FERC. [Bold and red emphasis added.] (Feb 24)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LNG's project is far enough behind the projects in Canada and in New England, that — even if there were any chance at all that Quoddy Bay LNG's project would be constructed — they've already lost the race. Customers will already have their gas requirements fulfilled by the others projects.]
LNG pressure builds: Residents protest, pols demand fed hearing — Boston Herald, Boston, MA
Realizing regulators are facing multiple revolts across the country over proposed LNG facilities, Bodman responded yesterday that the Energy Department will hold a hearing in Boston March 10 to listen to local politicians and residents’ concerns. (Feb 24)
Big PR firm is behind 'grass-roots' LNG effort — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
Vitagliano suggested the neighbors consider another idea: Support a proposed new LNG terminal on a Boston Harbor Island, which one day might eliminate the need for tankers to travel into the harbor to Everett. He suggested they go online to check out the website of the Coalition for an LNG Solution, a group that describes itself as a grass-roots neighborhood organization.
He did not mention that the website's phone number does not ring at his Winthrop home or that of any grass-roots activist. It is a line to Regan Communications, a powerful public relations firm that has been hired by AES Corp. of Arlington, Va., the company that wants to build the Boston Harbor terminal on Outer Brewster Island. (Feb 24)
Call for 'rational' route to LNG sitings — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
New England lawmakers are calling for a new regional approach to siting liquefied natural gas facilities, urging federal regulators to adopt a ''rational process" for approving new projects. (Feb 24)
Comments overlooked facts on safety of LNG shipments [Letter to the editor] — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
First, LNG is as safe, if not safer, to transport than other fuels that transit Boston Harbor even more frequently. When vaporized into natural gas, LNG is flammable just like gasoline and fuel oil, whose ships travel by the same waterfront neighborhoods. But in its liquid state inside the tankers, LNG cannot burn, is not under pressure, and is not explosive. Further, LNG tankers are sturdier than all other commercial vessels and even most naval vessels. Talk of LNG tankers endangering more than 500,000 people every week is just wrong.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The above letter by Julie Vitek, the Director of communications at Suez LNG and Distrigas of Massachusetts, presents the same industry false assurances that we've learned to expect.
Gasoline, too, while in its liquid state inside tankers cannot burn, is not under pressure, and is not explosive. Gasoline, just like LNG, requires vaporization plus oxygen to burn or explode.
Would Vitek argue that carrying a 5-gallon can of gas on the seat next to her in her car is "safe"? Gasoline in such a scenario, to use her words, "is not explosive." But, is it reasonable?
Vitek wants the public to believe the industry hype that every risk can be "managed" or "mitigated." To paraphrase a Campobello resident at the recent presentation there by Quoddy Bay LNG, "the Titanic was 'unsinkable,' but where is it now?" Industry and Coast Guard assurances ring hollow.
Vitek's letter ignores that LNG is critically different than other hydrocarbon fuels — it is extremely cold. If there were a calamity, its cryogenic state could — as stated in the Sandia report — cause a cascading failure of the other LNG containment on the ship. Escaping LNG would immediately begin to vaporize, yet — unlike gasoline — it would hug the water's surface, creating an expanding pool of LNG, eminating flammable and potentially explosive gas at human altitudes. That gas would drift wherever the wind carried it. If it caught fire, it would create a more intense thermal hazard than gasoline. If it were within a confine, say within a conduit, it could explode, and might possibly cause the nearby large unconfined vapor cloud to also explode. It could cause a catastrophe of unknown proportions.
Vitek attempts to refute the irrefutable. LNG tankers, when within three miles of civilians and civilian assets, certainly are a danger to those civilians and assets.]
AG Lynch wants renewed debate over proposed LNG terminal — WPRI, Providence, RI
Lynch says Weaver’s Cove is radically altering its proposal— not merely tweaking it—and that the public deserves to have the comment period reopened. (Feb 25)
National Grid enters talks to buy a second gas company — WPRI, Providence, RI
If National Grid buys New England Gas and Key Span, it could combine properties, possibly satisfying federal regulators and leading to the terminal’s expansion. (Feb 25)
High demand speeds up use of reserves — Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Some analysts say the soaring demand could deplete Trinidad's supplies fast, unless more oil and gas is found quickly. By some estimates, Trinidad now has 18 years of reserves to cover production, down from 40 years in 1999.
But the prime minister, a geologist by training, insists more reserves will be located and that new technologies will help stretch the supply anyway.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Whom would you believe: a politician or industry analysts?]
Port authority solves Jones Act tanker issues — Petroleum News, Anchorage, AK
Since the port authority plans to ship LNG from Alaska to West Coast ports, it would have to meet Jones Act requirements for U.S.-built, owned and crewed tankers.
[WEBMASTER'S NOTE: The Jones Act prohibits a foreign-built ship from visiting two consecutive U.S. ports.]
Activists research gas dangers — Tri-Valley Herald, Pleasanton, CA
Residents aim to stop the construction of liquified natural gas plant across from school. (Feb 24)
Q&A: Liquefied Natural Gas: A Potential Terrorist Target? — New York Times, New York, NY
A pool fire will burn until all its fuel is gone, which takes five to eight minutes, but it could ignite a rash of secondary fires on such a large scale that they may cause more damage than the initial blaze.
On-land proposals are reviewed by the FERC with almost no oversight from the Department of Homeland Security. [Rob Knake, senior associate at Good Harbor Consulting, LLC, a homeland-security private consulting firm] says in terms of security, "we lack any strategic sense of how we should be placing these terminals." [Bold and red emphasis added.] (Feb 11)
Top
Company proposes bigger LNG terminal for Maine — Portland Press-Herald, Portland, ME
A proposed liquefied natural gas terminal on Passamaquoddy tribal land at Split Rock now has four times the capacity of the original project and may involve a company in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the government of Trinidad.
LNG project grows: Quoddy Bay LLC quadruples plans — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
According to an article recently published in LNG Daily by Platts, an energy industry information service owned by The McGraw-Hill Cos., media reports from the country earlier this year indicated that a company from Trinidad was negotiating an 80 percent ownership stake in the project. The Trinidad government, it said, was considering a 10 percent stake. Don Smith declined to comment further about the discussions, the article indicated. (Feb 22)
Quoddy Bay Project Grows Four-Fold, May Involve Trinidad — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME
Quoddy Bay's Brian Smith says that instead of being treated as a Third World country and getting paid only for its gas supply, Trinidad wants to take part in downstream investments.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It doesn't seem to bother Don and Brian Smith to treat downeast Maine like a Third World country.]
City: Restart LNG proces — Herald News, Fall River, MA
When Hess LNG announced earlier this month that it would use smaller than anticipated liquefied natural gas tankers to deliver LNG to its proposed Fall River import terminal, the company said it wouldn’t need additional permitting to proceed with the plan.
But today, the city will file a motion with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission claiming the smaller tankers and more frequent trips constitute a project change and the agency should restart its approval process.
More LNG ships in harbor: Number of tankers rises dramatically — Boston Herald, Boston, MA
The number of LNG tankers steaming through Boston Harbor under heavy guard has dramatically increased since 2001 — with shipments of the dangerous cargo now averaging more than one a week, according to data reviewed by the Herald.
...Hunt said the spike in deliveries — which now require a small army of security — is one of the reasons Menino wants to put a cap on tankers using the harbor. (Feb 22)
Smaller LNG tankers would carry same risk — Providence Journal, Providence, RI
[Fall River Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr.] has argued that the idea of using smaller tankers — requiring more visits and more bridge closures — changes the project so dramatically that the company should reapply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has already given its approval. (Feb 22)
Cove Point and LNG importers tell FERC WGL’s distribution system is marginal — LNG Law Blog, New York, NY
Yesterday, FERC Staff convened a Procedural Conference in the Dominion Cove Point Expansion proceedings to consider the appropriate next steps for the timely processing of the expansion applications in light of allegations by Washington Gas Light that Cove Point gas has caused a significant increase in leaks on its system in Prince George's County, Md.
Lieberman Joins LNG Plant Opposition — Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT
Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman Tuesday joined the chorus of voices opposing Broadwater Energy's proposed liquefied natural gas plant in Long Island Sound. (Feb 22)
New England lawmakers call for regional approach to LNG siting — Newsday.com, Melville, NY
"We believe that this ad hoc approach is unsuitable for New England and that a more comprehensive and regional approach is required," wrote the lawmakers in a letter to [Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman].
Ehrlich, Ruppersberger find fault with LNG proposal — Dundalk Eagle, Dundalk, MD
Dundalk should not be a dumping ground for this type of facility,” Ruppersberger said in the release. “An [LNG] plant is absolutely inappropriate for a residential area.”
SPISD approves Golden Pass LNG abatement — News, Port Arthur, TX
“This is a win - win agreement for both sides. This is a real opportunity for Exxon Mobil, to save millions of dollars while helping a hurricane-ravaged community in the process. Sabine Pass ISD looks forward to having Exxon Mobil as a partner in education and a good community neighbor,” Fenn said.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Texas has a long history with the hazards and environmental problems concurrent with large energy industries in the neighborhood. Let LNG facilities be sited in similar areas, or offshore, away from people.]
Smith Calls For Debate On LNG — Bahama Journal, Nassau, Bahamas
Mount Moriah MP, Keod Smith, yesterday called for a full parliamentary debate on the Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] proposals, before a decision is made on the controversial projects that would involve running a pipeline from The Bahamas to Florida.
Bahamas May Seek Florida’s Assistance In Establishing LNG Regulatory Regime — Bahama Journal, Nassau, Bahamas
The Bahamas may seek assistance from Florida in establishing a regulatory regime to govern liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the country, Prime Minister Perry Christie said on Monday after a meeting with Florida Governor Jeb Bush at the Cabinet Office in downtown Nassau. (Feb 21)
Top
OSHA sends BP fatal blast case to Justice Dept. for probe, maybe prosecution, after $21M fine — International Labor Communications Association, Washington, DC
“There was no management oversight,” and workers “were left to their own best ability to get things done,” Kim Nibarger, USW’s lead investigator, said last year. He added BP managers did not follow up on problems disclosed by previous machinery malfunctions, there was a lack of training, and BP taught workers incorrect procedures.
Management did not “identify and correct antiquated equipment” and also let “highly flammable hydrocarbons” overflow the plant’s blowdown drum, contributing to the blast. The drum lacked automatic shutdown devices, too, Nibarger noted. (Feb 13)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Safety-challenged, to the point of being seriously scary, BP is a partner in Dominion Cove Point LNG Terminal in Maryland — the terminal that Downeast LNG holds up as a shining example for emulation.]
Bush raises hopes for LNG — Australian, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia
Mr Bush said using more LNG was one of the keys for the US to overcome its reliance on the Middle East to satiate the "addiction" to oil — part of a new energy policy theme Mr Bush started to champion in his State of the Union address last month. (Feb 22)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: In his state of the union message, President Bush advocated that the US would reduce it's dependence on foreign oil and gas. Now, he's saying we'll only reduce our dependence on Middle-Eastern oil and gas. This heralds a disturbing change in Bush's so-called energy-independence strategy.]
LNG terminal might be on shaky ground — Daily News, Longview, WA
Problems with a lease lead to major investors withdrawing financial backing, Spiro Vassilopoulos, CEO of Port Westward LNG, told the South County Spotlight in Scappoose this month. [Bold & red emphasis added.] (Feb 20)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LNG also has problems with its lease at Sipayik. There is currently a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) for abrogating their statutory trust responsibilities by improperly approving the lease. If the DOI uses the same strategy with this case that it has used in the long-running Cobel v. Norton lawsuit, the lease may be tied up in court for a full decade.]
LNG incentives are attractive to state — Mobile Register, Mobile, AL
While its offer is impressive, and certainly more than what's been pitched by other companies that have proposed land-based or offshore terminals, ConocoPhillips isn't doing something for nothing. The company needs Gov. Bob Riley's support for the Compass Port terminal, and the governor has reasonably asked what's in it for Alabama.
More important from the corporation's standpoint is its insistence on open-loop technology for the offshore LNG terminal. Open-loop technology sucks in millions of gallons of sea water to warm the liquefied natural gas back into its gaseous state. The process cools the sea water and kills just about everything in it, including eggs, larvae and juvenile sea creatures.
Boat operators sought for St. Croix tours — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
The boats would leave the Robbinston boat landing and travel near the island while a ranger discusses the island's history. The park service hopes to launch the tours this summer.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It's possible that there have been no takers so far because the Robbinston boat landing falls within the practical cryogenic vapor and thermal radiation hazard zones from the proposed Downeast LNG terminal at Mill Cove.]
Top
Kerry connects on harbor LNG [Editorial] — Boston Herald, Boston, MA
The proposed liquefied natural gas facility on Outer Brewster Island is such a no-brainer that even the NIMBYs are having a hard time rallying opposition. The 20-acre island is on no one’s “must visit” list. It’s an ugly step sister to the other harbor islands — with no chance of being kissed by any public investment to help turn it into an island worthy of being called a “national park.”
However, its location eight miles from downtown Boston and two from the coast of Hull give it a superior security profile, and the spin-off of state and local revenue from the LNG facility will help support the rest of the park.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Boston Herald editorial staff are surprisingly ignorant of LNG vapor cloud drift and accompanying potential thermal radiation hazards.]
Ruppersberger urges feds to deny Sparrows Point LNG terminal — Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore, MD
"This facility would be less than two miles from a residential neighborhood, and that concerns me greatly," Ruppersberger said in an interview. He also said it could damage the real estate market in the area.
Close the Door on Open-Loop LNG Terminals — Florida Sportsman, Stuart, FL
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is insisting the U.S. Department of Transportation deny open-loop permits for liquefied natural gas terminals proposed by ConocoPhillips and Freeport-McMoRan in the Gulf of Mexico. Citing the LNG terminals’ locations in areas designated as essential fish habitat for a variety of species, CCA has expressed grave concerns about the effects produced by filtering million gallons of seawater a day through the terminals.
LNG expansion in La. faces hurdles — Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA
[David Dismukes, executive director of LSU’s Center for Energy Studies] said the biggest news for LNG last year was Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s pledge to withhold state support for any project which uses an “open rack” system to raise the temperature of the cooled gas. All of the offshore projects would use such a system.
He pointed out some analysts have started to wonder to what extent the high prices are going to start destroying demand. (Feb 19)
Letter: Gas profits over common sense [Letter to the editor] — Daily News Tribune,
The process for review is not very good, and once this LNG tank is built in Fall River a precedent will be set to allow the market (energy industries) to dictate the sites. (Feb 19)
Alaska pipeline appears more vulnerable to attack than it is — Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA
Concerns that terrorists were targeting the pipeline were raised several weeks ago when the SITE Institute in Washington, D.C. — the acronym stands for Search for International Terrorist Entities — discovered a well-researched, 12-page Arabic essay posted on the Internet that discussed targeting the Alaska pipeline. Its author is unknown. (Feb 12)
Top
Proposed Maine terminal seeking fixed contracts — Platts
[PDF file; 96 KB]
“No one else is doing what we’re proposing to do,” said Quoddy Bay President Don Smith, who is also CEO of Oklahoma City-based Smith Cogeneration.
...Quoddy Bay is negotiating with the government of Trinidad and Tobago for that LNG-producing country to take an equity stake in the project and provide long-term supplies.
Media reports from Trinidad earlier this year said that an unnamed Trinidad and Tobago firm was negotiating to take 80% ownership of Quoddy LNG, with the Trinidad government considering taking 10% equity. (2005 Dec 16) [PDF file; 96 KB]
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Trinidad and Tobago government and unnamed firm are about to be disappointed by the project's ultimate failure.]
Senate OKs LNG commission — Herald News, Fall River, MA
The state Senate passed a bill this week that will create a commission to study liquefied natural gas siting issues in Massachusetts, state Sen. Joan Menard, D-Fall River, said Thursday.
Though the state doesn’t have authority over the siting of LNG facilities per se, Menard said "what we have jurisdiction over is protecting citizens of Massachusetts."
Shoreline Residents Rally Against LNG Ship In Long Island Sound — WFSB-TV, Hartford, CT
People along the shoreline are coming out this weekend to try and stop a project they say will ruin Long Island Sound and make Connecticut a terrorist target.
LNG Development in the Pacific Northwest — Renewable Energy Access, Peterborough, NH
A Comprehensive Two-Day Conference on LNG Development in the Pacific Northwest, featuring The Hon. Nora Mead Brownell, Commissioner, FERC. Start date 2006 May 4, end date 2006 May 5, location Portland, Oregon. Attorneys, managers and technical staff from the gas industry, and state and local government employees will want to attend and learn about the newest in natural gas sourcing.
Top
Mayor storms out of LNG meeting — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
Robbinston panel OKs next step for LNG plan — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
"Current law in Canada defines Bay of Fundy and Head Harbour Passage as a territorial sea. A territorial sea falls under the rights of innocent passage," he said. To change the law, Girdis said, the country would have to change its regulations.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Girdis apparently can't cite the exact "Current law in Canada" that defines the Bay of Fundy as a territorial sea; otherwise, he'd refer precisely to it.
When reading the details in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, the Bay of Fundy appears to be "Internal Waters," which aren't subject to "Innocent Passage." Additionally, since the United States isn't a party to the Convention of the Law of the Sea, and since the Convention is an agreement among signatories, Canada isn't obligated to honor the Convention's rules as they might apply the the U.S.]
Conoco lays out its offer for LNG — Mobile Register, Mobile, AL
The company officials said ... they would provide written and legally binding environmental guarantees that their "open loop" seawater reheating system would have "zero impact on species of concern."
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LNG made similar assurances at it's February 15th open house in Perry, Maine regarding LNG ships not striking right whales. The question then becomes, if they're wrong, will they or government shut the hundreds-of-million-dollars-worth facility down? That seems unlikely; such assurances are probably worthless.]
'Zero impact' of LNG plant hard to prove — Mobile Register, Mobile, AL
While scientists contacted by the Mobile Register agree that early data indicates that ConocoPhillips may be able to significantly reduce the number of eggs and young fish destroyed as it processes LNG at its proposed Compass Port shipping terminal, they say they still can't assess the impact the facility will have on sustainable populations of adult marine creatures.
In extended conversations with the Register, ConocoPhillips officials have been very careful to define what they mean by zero impact, saying that refers to "species of special concern" and it would be the "net effect" after offsetting any destruction at the facility by habitat improvements and conservation funding elsewhere in the Gulf.
LNG gets a firm no — sort of — Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA
[A]lthough the nonbinding resolution declared Council's "unqualified opposition to any project that would create an LNG shipping terminal within the City of Philadelphia," several of those who supported the measure moved quickly to add qualifications.
Top
Mayor: Canada will block LNG projects in Maine: St. Andrews official warns developers — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
[Mayor] Craig urged Girdis to take St. Andrews' message back to his financial supporters.
"You must take this message back to them and accept the fact that Canada does have the authority to block your plans and all other LNG facilities on the Passamaquoddy Bay and that Canada will do so," he said.
St. Andrews Mayor: LNG project won't happen without Canada's consent and consent won't be given — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME
The Mayor warned Girdis, "you must understand that in this location, your project cannot happen without Canada's consent, and consent will definitely not be given. And if you choose to pursue your project in the face of our country's opposition, you will be forced to pursue the matter in our Canadian courts."
LNG developers meet with criticism in St. Andrews — Daily Gleaner, Fredericton, NB
[C]ritics of Girdis's plans told the developer to find another place for his project.
"You have 3,000 miles (of Maine coast) to choose from, just not here," said Nancy McIntosh, a former adviser to the former Liberal cabinet minister Andy Scott.
She said no one in Ottawa supports the passage of LNG tankers into Passamaquoddy Bay.
Philadelphia City Council passes resolution opposing PGW’s risky LNG plans — PennEnvironment, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia City Council voted 12-2 today in favor of a resolution announcing the Council’s intended opposition to any liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility plans within the city’s limits.
LNG proposal for Philadelphia takes a hit — NewsJournal, Wilmington, DE
Krajewski's legislative aide said today that the council vote reflects concern about costs and security risks reported by officials in Boston, where an LNG terminal operates despite objections from city leaders. [Bold emphasis added.]
Public comment reopens on LNG port application — Malibu Times, Malibu, CA
An earlier environmental evaluation of Billiton's Cabrillo Port plan was deemed incomplete by federal and state officials, who said the company had left out important safety and operating information. Those data gaps have delayed evaluation of the project by two years.
Land Use Board of Appeals will decide on LNG rezoning — Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
At its Jan. 24 meeting, the City Commission adopted two ordinances necessary to rezone the area from Urban Recreation/Resort to Water Dependent Shorelands/Industrial-2. The ordinances, which amend the city’s comprehensive plan and development code, pave the way for an LNG receiving terminal and dock to be constructed by Skipanon Natural Gas LLC, a subsidiary of Calpine Corp., a San Jose, Calif.-based energy company. (Feb 15)
Top
Feds look for LNG 'comments' at open houses — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
[FERC's Robert Kopka], from Washington, D.C., and three others with input into the state and federal permitting process for the Quoddy Bay project had been invited to meet with members of Save Passamaquoddy Bay. The group is a "three-nation alliance" — representing Washington County, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Atlantic Canada — that has stood up to local LNG development for nearly two years.
The [reception] — smoked salmon graced a table of other locally prepared foods — was called to clarify and discuss the steps that FERC will oversee during the permitting process for Quoddy Bay and two other companies that also want to bring LNG to the region.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The reception went well, and this writer is confident that the FERC team will objectively conclude that the Quoddy Bay LNG project is the outrageous folly that it is.]
Downeast LNG asks FERC to start environmental review; Robbinston landowners notified about proposed $400M terminal — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
The company said it anticipates that most environmental issues and concerns will be identified and addressed before the company files an application for the project with FERC in September.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Despite Downeast LNG's efforts, there are several "show-stopper" issues — insurmountable problems that will prevent Downeast LNG from completing their project.]
Gazprom to move into North American LNG — United Press International
"We intend to participate in all elements of the value chain. We will produce the gas. We will participate in the liquefaction, in shipping, and in the regas facilities."
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Gazprom is Russia's gas monopoly, has been in hot water for monopolistic gas pricing, and has stated that it wants to own Dominion Cove Point LNG terminal, the Maryland LNG facility that Downeast LNG holds up as a gleaming ideal — the same terminal that is partially owned by safety-, culture-, and environment-abusers BP and Shell.]
Atlantic Basin Faces LNG Shortfall Of 13.7 BCF/Day -Exec — Yahoo Finance, Singapore
The U.S. and the European Union will fall 13.7 billion cubic feet a day short of liquefied natural gas from 2010, William Hastings, President of Marathon LNG Marketing, a unit of Marathon Oil Corp (MRO), said Wednesday.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: On the other hand, Downeast LNG's Dean Girdis stated at a public meeting in Robbinston, Maine that there's probably enough natural gas worldwide to supply LNG for hundreds of years to come. Apparently Marathon LNG Marketing's president doesn't get his information from Girdis.]
LNG demand ‘may fail’ to meet forecasts — Gulf Times, Doha, Qatar
"LNG is losing competitiveness with alternative fuels like coal and pipeline gas under high oil prices," Yoneyama said at the LNG Asia Pacific 2006 conference in Seoul, organised by Marcus Evans, a UK-based business information provider. "Unless LNG keeps its competitiveness, the industry may not enjoy growth in the market."
Kerry: LNG plan worth a look - Senator tells Patriot Ledger that U.S. needs to explore more sources of alternative energy — Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
"Providing that the project can be done in a way that maintains the integrity of the overall island park effort, it’s worthy of exploring," Kerry said. "Can you hold the integrity? ...If you can, let it go forward." (Feb 14)
Kerry got donation from backer of LNG port: AES co-founder gave $5,000; aide denies it swayed senator — Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
Roger W. Sant, who helped found AES Corp. in 1981 and is the chairman emeritus of its board of directors, has given Kerry campaigns $5,000 since 1997, federal campaign finance records show. In the same period, Sant has contributed more than $200,000 to other candidates or groups, many of them Democrats or Democratic organizations.
It wasn’t so much Sant’s contributions to Kerry himself but rather his overall political donations that raised the suspicions of Michael Massagli, who owns a home on Orleans Street in Hull and has been helping a group formed to fight the LNG project.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: LNG influence crosses political boundaries.]
Lambert, Healey confer on LNG — Herald News, Fall River, MA
"If they are serious about this proposal, I think they need to start over," Lambert said.
Help is needed with natural gas — Mobile Register, Mobile, AL
Increased oil and gas infrastructure would hurt Florida's $50-billion-a-year tourism-dependent economy, [Dan McLaughlin, a spokesman for Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson] said. "When you have that infrastructure you are going to have environmental degradation. There's no way around it."
"I'm tired of people telling me they can mitigate the problem," [Gov. Bob Riley] said. "I'd rather not have the problem."
DOE Initiates Series of LNG Public Education Forums: First Forum Set in Boston, Massachusetts — U.S. Department of Energy - Fossil Energy
"The Department of Energy's Liquefied Natural Gas forums will initiate constructive dialogue among community members, local, state, and federal government leaders," Secretary Bodman said. "This forum is one step, of many, that will help us address and evaluate our energy needs, and increase America’s energy security."
LNG Forums — U.S. Department of Energy - Fossil Energy
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires the Secretary of Energy to convene a series of LNG forums to provide public education and foster dialogue among Federal officials, State and local officials, the general public, independent experts, and industry representatives. The purpose of the forums is to identify and develop best practices for addressing the issues and challenges associated with LNG imports.
The LNG forums will be held in regions in which LNG import facilities are under consideration.
The remaining forums will be announced when dates and locations are scheduled.
Not all LNG terminals are environmentally equal — Bridgeton News, Bridgeton, NJ
[Companies proposing] deepwater terminals off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts promote the fact that their facilities will not use large quantities of seawater to reheat the gas and will thereby avoid the impacts to marine life and fisheries associated with the controversial "open loop" seawater systems. (Feb 14)
United Arab Emirates Firm May Oversee 6 U.S. Ports — Washington Post, Washington, DC
A company in the United Arab Emirates is poised to take over significant operations at six American ports as part of a corporate sale, leaving a country with ties to the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers with influence over a maritime industry considered vulnerable to terrorism.
The $6.8 billion sale could be approved Monday and would affect commercial port operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. [Bold emphasis added.] (Feb 12)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: There appears to be a serious intellectual disconnect going on with homeland security! But just relax, folks, "everything will be operated safely."]
|
|
|
|
Wind power right choice for Maine [Op-ed] — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
|
|
The development of nonpolluting, sustainable and renewable energy by harnessing the power of the wind represents a true turning point for this state. It is the right choice for our environment and our energy future in the 21st century.
Top
Tribal council rejects LNG tax agreement — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
In a press release issued by Quoddy Bay on February 3, Quoddy Bay Project Manager Brian Smith said, "... We stand ready to honor our lease commitments as soon as the Pleasant Point band secures the tax agreement from the Joint Tribal Council. This is the only impediment now standing in the way of the commencement of lease payments."
Also according to the videotape, Craig Francis stated that he believes Quoddy Bay LLC does not have the financial resources to make the LNG project happen, so the money paid to Pleasant Point by Quoddy Bay will not have to be paid back. (Feb 10)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC is holding hostage their past-due lease payments to Pleasant Point, the Joint Tribal Council rejected Quoddy Bay LLC's attempt to ransom the lease payments, while the Passamaquoddy lawyer working for the tribe — the same lawyer who previously advocated for the project — says he thinks that Quoddy Bay LLC can't financially complete the project.
The boat is sinking rapidly, folks. It's time to abandon ship!]
LNG information sessions to be held — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
[Save Passamaquoddy Bay 3-Nation Alliance coordinator Linda Godfrey] is surpised that Quoddy Bay LLC announced the meetings on such short notice. "It seems inappropriate and not in keeping with any aspect of community involvement." (Feb 10)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC's (now, apparently, a.k.a., "Quoddy Bay LNG") short notice for the information sessions is one more demonstration of the Smith's lack of respect for local residents who would be affected by their improbable pie-in-the-sky project.]
St. Andrews to host public LNG meeting — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Downeast LNG has scheduled a public meeting at the Fairmont-Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews on Wednesday, February 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. to provide information on its proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to be located along Route 1 at Mill Cove in Robbinston. (Feb 10)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Downeast LNG's short notice — like Quoddy Bay LLC — demonstrates little respect for the people of St. Andrews.
If FERC were truly interested in the public interest, then they'd implement some rules regarding these meetings; rules such as:
- A requirement for public notice regarding these meetings. There currently is no such requirement!
- A requirement for minimum-allowable advance notice to the public.
- The format of the meetings, so that all in attendance can hear all questions and answers — rather than the proponent-controlled one-on-one question and answer session, with subsequent limited group question and answer session, as is planned for the current group of meetings. The public has the RIGHT TO KNOW!
- A requirement that — when multiple LNG proposals exist for the same area — no two meetings be scheduled for the same date (such as is happening here: Competing developers Downeast LNG & Quoddy Bay LLC both have simultaneous meetings on February 15) — so that all interested parties can attend all meetings. FERC should coordinate the meeting schedules.
It is unconscionable that no such rules yet exist.
We've made these recommendations directly to FERC personnel. If the FERC is actually as concerned about informing the public regarding proposed LNG projects as they claim to be, then they will adopt these suggestions as requirements.]
Calais LNG discusses plans for terminal — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Representatives of Calais LNG, a company that proposes to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to be located in Red Beach, within the city limits of Calais, made a presentation at a joint workshop held by the Calais City Council and the Calais Planning Board on February 2. (Feb 10)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Like the other two projects, this one has no probability for success.]
BHP, Mitsubishi Lead Race for Californian LNG Terminal Approval — Bloomberg.com
"I would think that once two or three of them get built it's going to be tough for the others to come in,'" [Pat Perez, manager of the special projects office at the Californian Energy Commission,] said. (Feb 13)
LNG Investor Raps Gov’t — Bahama Journal, Nassau, Bahamas
Back in December when he spoke to The Bahama Journal on LNG, Prime Minister Christie said the reason why no [LNG] project had been approved yet was because he became concerned that such project would hurt this country’s image as a leading tourism destination. [Bold emphasis added.] (Feb 13)
Top
Hess may use mini-tankers — Herald News, Fall River, MA
"This is a major redefining of their plan, and I believe it’s not going to be economically feasible. And I contend this is not safe or sensible for the people of Greater Fall River," McGovern said. "If they think this will buy time until someone comes up with a plan to tear down the old bridge, I have bad news: It’s staying there." (Feb 12)
Energy forum to look at effect of high prices — SunHerald, Biloxi, MS
Louisiana has the only terminal on the Gulf Coast that can receive natural gas but, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, eight have already been approved in Texas and Louisiana. Eight more have been proposed, two of which would be located in Pascagoula.
Five more offshore terminals have either been approved or proposed to the Coast Guard, the agency that oversees those. (Feb 11)
Top
Quoddy Bay LNG holding open house on Campobello Island — Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB
“We look forward to meeting and talking with our neighbors about the integrity of our project including the economic benefits, while providing information about the (U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) process.”
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: "Integrity?"]
Q&A: Liquefied Natural Gas: A Potential Terrorist Target? — New York Times, New York, NY [Free registration required]
Tankers are particularly vulnerable as they traverse inland waterways en route to their destinations. The impact of an assault would vary depending on the size and location of the attack, the worst-case scenario being a massive explosion.
IG warns against favoritism in LNG policy — Boston Herald, Boston, MA
[Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth)], who provided the media with a copies of his correspondence with [Inspector General Gregory Sullivan], said legislation authorizing the lease of Outer Brewster Island clearly favors AES Corp., which has proposed building a giant liquefied natural gas facility on the island.
LNG firm counters bridge obstacle — Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA
Weaver's Cove Energy aims to bring in smaller vessels to navigate the opening of the Brightman Street Bridge, which is too narrow for its giant LNG tankers, according to a filing with federal regulators.
Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. responded quickly yesterday, asserting that the change in Weaver's Cove's plan is significant enough to require the Amerada Hess subsidiary to go back to square one for the entire project, a step that could cost the company millions of dollars.
"They are more than doubling the number of trips a year (about once every three days) from 50 to 120. They are shutting down our river significantly more often. There will be more bridge closures in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and more security costs with twice the trips," the mayor charged yesterday afternoon at a news conference at City Hall.
Push is on for LNG to boost supplies — KLFY-TV, Lafayette, LA
There's no single solution to offsetting supply disruptions, but economists, industry executives and analysts tout one means to ease future shortages against increasing demand.
They advocate placing aboveground storage tanks along the nation's coasts, where energy companies can store imported liquefied natural gas -- or L-N-G.
Canada supports Russian energy deal — Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON
Concerns about dealing with Gazprom grew stronger on Jan. 1, when a price dispute with Ukraine culminated in Gazprom reducing the flow of gas, which dropped the pressure in European pipelines in the dead of winter.
Top
In the global race to power up LNG plants, firms face supply challenge — Telegraph-Journal, Saint John, NB
The three LNG projects in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are well into development even though only two of the projects have publicly confirmed secure supply contracts of natural gas.
Progress stalled on LNG buffer bill — Herald News, Fall River, MA
Sullivan’s legislation calls for a 5,000-foot buffer zone from the center of an LNG tanker to the nearest residential home and a 1,500-foot clearance from an LNG tanker’s hull to the closet home or school.
Such zones would prevent LNG tankers from traveling up the Taunton River to reach the site where Hess LNG plans to build its facility.
State Seeks Role In Gas Plant Process — Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal drove to the head of the line in the battle against the Broadwater natural gas plant Thursday, filing a petition to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in its deliberations over the controversial proposal.
For U.S., dependence on LNG carries risks — Business Week
As America becomes a bigger player in the global natural-gas trade, its vulnerability to faraway production snags and price gyrations will rise, as will its dependence on energy from the Middle East and other volatile regions.
"When things go bad, the U.S. is currently the one that suffers worst because it's mostly a spot market. It's the market of last resort," said Gavin Law, head of the global LNG practice at consultant Wood Mackenzie in Houston.
Bahamas LNG Stalemate Prompts Suez to Plan Offshore Florida LNG Port — Rigzone.com
With no action for many months from the Bahamas government on its application for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Freeport, Suez Energy North America has changed its strategy and is now planning to file an application for another U.S. LNG terminal offshore Florida. (Feb 9)
Sempra builds 1st LNG terminal in Mexico — Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, WA
That's not to say that all Mexicans welcome LNG either. Lobster fishermen and the owner of a neighboring resort say Sempra's hulking plant threatens business. Surfers say a phenomenal surfing spot was destroyed after the San Diego-based company began construction in March.
|
|
|
|
Sweden plans to be world's first oil-free economy — Guardian, London, England, UK
|
|
Sweden is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced western economy by trying to wean itself off oil completely within 15 years - without building a new generation of nuclear power stations. (Feb 8)
Energy Inaction Causes “Acute” Problems [News release] — American Petroleum Institute
The time has come, [Red Cavaney, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute] said, for Congress to enact an energy bill that will ensure diversity of supply, increase access to oil and natural gas on non-park federal lands and offshore, encourage greater imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), increase energy efficiency and conservation, expand refinery capacity and reduce the growth of boutique fuels across the country. (Jan18)
Top
Date set for LNG meeting — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
Girdis stressed that he never refused to attend the large public meeting held at the arena in St. Andrews last year, which attracted 1,000 opponents of the projects.
Thompson named to cabinet — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
Tax-exempt status for gas project nixed — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
LNG developers report progress — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
[Brian] Smith said turning in the report was a major milestone for the company. He said the report described in more details aspects of the proposed facility.
[Quoddy Bay LNG] also announced another milestone: It is one of the first to open an office in Washington County and hire a local spokesman.
Quoddy Bay's major competitor, the Washington, D.C.-based Downeast LNG, also is moving forward with its plans to build a facility in Robbinston.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: In truth, Quoddy Bay LNG is still at mile zero in a long, arduous and complicated process. They're still in the pre-application process; they've hardly passed any "major milestones."
Additionally, because of the insurmountable obstacles in their way, both Quoddy Bay LNG's and Downeast LNG's local office acquisition/construction are considerably late. They're about to learn that they spent money on locations and facilities that they'll soon need to sell.]
Pride & Purpose — Herald News, Fall River, MA
AlthoughMayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. has spent the past two years fighting to prevent Hess LNG from building a liquefied natural gas facility in Fall River, on Tuesday he thanked the company.
"Believe it or not, tonight, I offer my thanks to (Hess LNG), because I believe they’ve galvanized our people in a way that can’t be undone." (Feb 8)
Protect Long Island Sound – Stop Broadwater — Connecticut Public Interest Research Group
In recent years, we have made progress in efforts to reverse the damage and clean up the Sound. The quality of its waters has begun to improve, helping ensure its health for the future. Now, Shell Oil and TransCanada are threatening that progress by proposing to build a massive, dangerous Liquefied Natural Gas processing facility called “Broadwater” in the middle of the Sound.
Biolab, LNG materials called threat — Daily Free Press, Boston University, Boston, MA [Free subscription required]
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Mayor Thomas Menino has firmly opposed the presence of LNG tankers in Boston Harbor, though the city has little jurisdiction over tanker activity. In 2003, Menino demanded the ban of giant tankers in the harbor, saying that federal and industry officials were playing "Russian roulette" with the city's safety.
Time elapsing for LNG feedback — Herald News, Fall River, MA
The Army Corps of Engineers’ public comment period on work associated with Hess LNG’s plan to build a liquefied natural gas facility in the city [Fall River] ends Wednesday. (Feb 7)
In assessing LNG, consider ocean health [Opinion] — Mobile Register, Mobile, AL
"There is widespread agreement that our oceans and marine resources are in serious trouble," wrote Adm. James D. Watkins, chairman of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, in a letter to President George W. Bush in September 2004. He wrote that the oceans are "increasingly affected by rapid growth along our coasts, land and air pollution, unsustainable exploitation of too many of our fishery resources, and frequently ineffective management."
"Ocean eco-systems are crucial not only to the economic well-being of our nation," wrote the two chairmen on Feb. 1, "but also to human health and our standard of living, both now and in the future." The chairmen warned of "substantial and possibly irreversible degradation of the health and productivity of our oceans." [Red & bold emphasis added] (Feb 8)
EPA waives oversight of proposed LNG terminal — Malibu Times, Malibu, CA
Also, the Environmental Protection Agency says the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal will be exempt from California smog laws.
Although natural gas is commonly viewed as a clean fuel, opponents of the project point out that the terminal's vaporization of LNG into natural gas will send 261 tons of smog-producing petrochemicals, nitrites, sulfides and ammonia into the air just upwind of Malibu annually.
And in a development on the other side of the globe that could reduce Washington's support for the Malibu LNG terminal, BHP Billiton has been implicated in an Australian scandal involving alleged kickbacks paid to Saddam Hussein during the American-led trade embargo before the Iraq War. [Bold emphasis added.]
El Paso starts up Elba Island LNG expansion — Oil & Gas Journal
El Paso Corp. has placed in service expanded capacity at its Elba Island LNG receiving terminal near Savannah, Ga.
El Paso has begun regulatory work on another expansion project, which would double the facility's size by 2010. (Feb 7)
Top
Tribal officials lay out plans for Calais LNG site — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
At a joint meeting of the Calais City Council and planning board last week, Calais LNG and its business partner — Cianbro Corp. — unveiled plans to build a multimillion-dollar LNG terminal.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It's surprising that Cianbro Corp. — not to mention the proponents of all three local LNG projects — hasn't done its homework. Of all those involved, they most of all should realize all of the unresolvable impediments to siting LNG facilities in Passamaquoddy Bay, and that none of these projects has a ghost of a chance at success. Cianbro is wasting its sockholders' money by not looking at an offshore site.]
Calais City Council, Planning Board hear about Calais LNG proposal — WQDY-FM
"We don't have any specific plans to go and address any community, we also want to be careful here to suggest that we're certainly not going to go and get yelled at. We will participate in any civil forum, where we might be able to discuss aspects of the project, and we'd be happy to do that," Moore explained.
"That's as long as it's in a civil manner and a civil forum. We don't need to be yelled at by a thousand people shouting 'No LNG,' but we will certainly engage and have open and honest discussions with various communities," Moore said.
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Ethically-conflicted Maine Legislature Representative / Calais LNG developer Fred Moore offers a red herring. The "No LNG" chanting that Moore refers to occurred at the St. Andrews information session, that 1,200+ people attended, that was requested by both Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC, but who then refused to show up, resulting in the meeting turning into a rally. There was no shouting at any LNG developers at that meeting.]
A matter of distance [Letter to the editor] — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
Rather than being "about three miles from St. Andrews," Downeast LNG's proposed facility would actually be less than three quarters of a mile from St. Andrews. (Jan 31)
Keeping promises [Letter to the editor] — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB
I also hope that they take note of the already fragile economy and what kind of a negative impact allowing huge LNG tankers will have by shutting down our waters to our economic use and how many more jobs will be lost here if that is allowed to move forward. (Jan 31)
Sierra Club upset with LNG review plan — CBC Nova Scotia
"The reason why there are so many companies shopping in Eastern Canada for these kind of proposals that are generally rejected along the Eastern Seaboard is because we have a lax regulatory regime and we have desperate communities willing to take projects that other communities that have options don't take," [Bruno Marcocchio, with the Sierra Club] said.
Court could rule on LNG by 2007 — Herald News, Fall River, MA
[Attorney Edward Berlin] said the brief will describe the legal errors the city believes FERC committed. He said that would be the basis for the court to overturn the commission’s decision.
Alternative LNG cooling [heating] systems touted as safer for sea life — Mobile Register, Mobile, AL
Though the data is sketchy, officials with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council predict there might be dire consequences if more open-loop systems gain approval.
Let's steer LNG tankers far away from the North End, Waterfront [Letter to the editor] — Boston Globe, Boston, MA
[W]e have created the Coalition for an LNG Solution, a group of residents in the North End, Charlestown, Chelsea, Winthrop, and East Boston. We want to work with our elected officials to create new LNG terminal options and get these dangerous tankers out of Boston Harbor. To join us, please find us online at www.lngsolutions.blogspot.com.
Three LNG projects proposed for Passamaquoddy Bay — Fishermen's Voice, South Gouldsboro, ME
The project laid out in the pre-application filing, she said, is “totally different” from the original one at Gleason’s Cove that Quoddy Bay LLC had been describing to the public. (February issue)
Man-made island in ocean proposed as LNG terminal — MyWestTexas.com
The new plan for an island, called Safe Harbor Energy, was announced by officials of the Atlantic Sea Island Group, a privately financed company. They said they would file an application in the next few months for government approvals.
The site is 13.5 miles south of Long Beach and 19 miles east of Sandy Hook, N.J. (Feb 5)
Billboard carrying anti-LNG message erected: More than 20 organizations join to fight bill — Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
Leaders of Save the Brewsters, whose members include South Shore businesses, environmental groups and maritime associations, say they hope the giant scenic photograph that stands above Bridge Street in Weymouth will convince people that Outer Brewster Island is too valuable a natural resource to squander. (Feb 3)
Coast Guard expects LNG security plan to be largest ever — Greenwich Time, Greenwich, CT
The Coast Guard likely would need more security manpower if a liquefied natural gas terminal is built in Long Island Sound, but opponents shouldn't expect the maritime agency to pick sides in the fight, the region's top Coast Guard official said. (Feb 2)
Top
Philadelphia City Council Balks at Stopping Risky LNG Plans — PennEnvironment, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia City Council opted against voting on a resolution that would have announced the Council’s intent to oppose any liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility plans within the city’s limits.
County's Homelessness Is On The Increase — Pembrokeshire TV, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Causes for continuing homelessness in the county are attributed to astronomical rent rises around the Haven brought about by LNG. Contractors working on the LNG terminals are able to pay far more for accommodation which makes it impossible for many local people to rent properties.
Conservatives win, LNG may end up losing — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
"Mr. Hoffman [of FERC] has told me that if Canada says "no," that would effectively kill the project. That's the position the new government will take," [said Member of Parliament Greg Thompson]. (Jan 27)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Apparently Downeast LNG's Dean Girdis — in stating that Canada has no ability to stop LNG tankers from transiting Head Harbour Passage (see Girdis' remarks on 2005 Nov 2 and on 2006 Jan 25) — doesn't think FERC, the authority in LNG project approval, knows what it's talking about.]
FERC approves Downeast LNG request — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
In a letter dated January 12 to Downeast LNG, FERC said the request did not identify the environmental and engineering firms and subcontractors under contract to develop the project.
Robert Wyatt, vice president of environment and permits for Downeast LNG, says the information was then forwarded to FERC, and he reports that the federal agency approved the request for the pre-filing review on January 25. (Jan 27)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Is Downeast LNG's sloppy pre-filing application a forecast what the area should anticipate regarding their operating procedure should their improbable project ever achieve fruition?]
Land in Perry optioned for LNG tanks — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Quoddy Bay LLC has optioned approximately 170 acres of land in Perry between the Old Eastport Road and Cannon Hill Road for the location of three proposed 160,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks. (Jan 27)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It will be interesting to watch Quoddy Bay LLC's representatives trip over all the immovable obstacles to their ill-designed project.]
Perry selectmen asked for endorsement of LNG package — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
"Our town counsel did advise us that we could not legally sign a contract." (Jan 27)
Task force votes for LNG development — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
In an 8-0 vote, with two abstentions, members of the Washington County Economic Development Task Force, at a meeting held January 21, voted to "endorse the responsible development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Washington County." (Jan 27)
[WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: And yet, when the Task Force listed their eight priorities for the Maine legislature to consider, they appropriately omitted any mention of LNG in Washington County.]
Top
R.I. joins Mass. officials in appeal of LNG proposal — Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Download free Adobe Reader software for PDF files.
