Save Passamaquoddy Bay
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Passamaquoddy Bay & LNG
2006 June
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30 June 2006 |
Canaport LNG progressing as partner Repsol LNG eyes supplies — Platts [Free registration required]
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is yet another demonstration of why Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC are simply ill-conceived, expensive pipe dreams.
- They can't compete economically, due to rapid cost increases;
- They don't have FERC permits;
- They don't have LNG supplies;
- They aren't under construction;
- They won't pass environmental regulations;
- They won't pass waterway suitability requirements;
- They won't pass submerged land lease requirements;
- They can't pass SIGTTO LNG-industry safe practices standards;
- They would damage the area's economy;
- They don't have sufficient Passamaquoddy Bay community support;
- Canada won't allow LNG ships to transit Head Harbour Passage;
- U.S. LNG imports are falling, and are lower than they were in 2004;
- They won't have any customers, because New England LNG infrastructure is 400% overbuilt; and
- Quoddy Bay LLC doesn't even have a valid lease for their receiving terminal location.
- They don't have FERC permits;
Nova Scotia unveils offshore project — Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: More Canadian natural gas without needing to import LNG means even less reason for the already-doomed Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC projects.
LNG project focus turning to security — Gloucester County Times, Woodbury, NJ
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: BP has demonstrated its lack of respect for regulators and for safety of its facilities and personnel. They're being investigated for criminal negligence in the fatal Texas City, TX, refinery explosion, as well as for price manipulation of the natural gas market. Since FERC hasn't done it — and since FERC, by their own admission, will let anybody (including BP, Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Charles Manson, and Osama bin Laden) own and operate an LNG facility — hopefully, the Supreme Court will boot this facility out of BP's reach.
Governor discusses BGE, LNG Arnick, and other topics — Dundalk Eagle, Dundalk, MD
I've said this from the beginning, [LNG is] an inappropriate project for the location.
Since we asked: gas pipeline — Mail Tribune, Medford, OR
Numerous responses from the public, both infavor, and opposed. (Jun 25)
LA and Long Beach propose new green rules — Maritime Global Net, Bristol, RI
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Quoddy Bay LLC's Brian Smith admitted to the Sunrise County Economic Council that the proposed Quoddy Bay LNG project would be a "major source of NOx emissions."
Federal agencies collaborate to expedite construction of Alaska natural gas pipeline — U.S. Department of Energy
29 June 2006 |
FERC report policy riles LNG foes — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Descriptions of many of the documents submitted as part of the reports are listed in the electronic library of FERC's Web site, but not all are available for public viewing. Visitors to the Web site, www.ferc.gov, who try to open some of the documents online instead get a message informing them they do not have permission to view the requested file.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Save Passamaquoddy Bay recognizes that some information related to specifics of LNG terminal design, such as the type of equipment, its placement within the site, and some information related to security, should be held confidential; however, here are some items contained in those reports that FERC is requiring it be kept from the public:
- The codes and standards under which the plant (and marine terminal, if applicable) will be designed;
- Special considerations or safety provisions that were applied to the design of plant components;
- The permits or approvals from local, state, Federal, or Native American groups or Indian agencies required prior to and during construction of the plant;
- The status of permits and approvals;
- Description of data records required for submission to such agencies;
- Transcripts of any public hearings by such agencies;
- Correspondence relating to the actions by all, or any, of those agencies regarding all required approvals;
- How the project will comply with 49 CFR part 193 and the National Fire Protection Association 59A LNG Standards;
- Vapor dispersion calculations from LNG spills over water.
- Special considerations or safety provisions that were applied to the design of plant components;
As we've learned to expect from the mouths of the developers — as once again issued from Brian Smith's mouth — they'll say anything to make the public believe that they will, and should, receive approval from the public and permitting from FERC. The LNG and gas industry, itself, has been recently indicating that the Passamaquoddy Bay LNG projects are superfluous and won't fly.
Immigrants Detained Near LNG Terminal — WCVB-TV, Boston, MA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is just a preview of the additional scrutiny and uncertainty that our lives would be under, if there really were a chance that the proposed LNG terminals could be sited in Passamaquoddy Bay.
Bill prevents LNG tankers from entering Bay — Providence Journal, Providence, RI
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC, on the other hand, isn't concerned at all if people are in the "security zone" around the tanker, unless those people are in boats or have weapons. It is evident that FERC is concerned about the safety to the LNG vessel, not the safety of citizens who may be endangered by it.
BP unit charged with price manipulation — AP, Dallas News, Dallas, TX
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: BP is the corporation lacking an adequate safety culture, and is under criminal investigation for intentional safety violations that resulted in a multiple-death and injury explosion at their Texas City, TX, oil refinery, but that — like Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Charles Manson, or Osama bin Laden — FERC thinks is a "Jim Dandy" company to operate an LNG facility at Crown Landing. They're also partners in the Cove Point, Maryland, LNG terminal that is so loved by Downeast LNG's Dean Girdis. FERC, by its own admission to the public, doesn't care what kind of criminal or sociopath operates LNG facilities, so long as it can continue to convince Congress that FERC is only thinking about the public's best interests.
28 June 2006 |
Minority role vexes female selectman — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
In her question to MMA, Guisinger wanted to know if cashing the check constituted acceptance.
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Maine Municipal Association — an organization with no legal authority — has taken an outrageous position: that they have the right to know the vote on every topic by every town, and exactly where every town official stands on every topic, before they'll provide any town official with any advice on those topics!
Here's what the Maine Municipal Association says about itself:
"The Maine Municipal Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization with a voluntary membership of all but one of the State's 493 cities, towns, plantations and organized townships."
The MMA Bylaws, Article I, Section 2, state:
This Association shall be an organization dedicated to the purposes of: ...(b) providing technical assistance and information analysis to aid municipal officials in decision making (c) contributing to the understanding of municipal issues through information exchange on developments and problems of municipal government (d) improving the education and training of appointed and elected municipal officials ....
— Nowhere do the Bylaws state that the municipal official making the request must be in the majority opinion on any issue. And, if the town's Clerk were to ask a question, MMA would provide an answer — creating a very sticky legal position for the MMA.
We now know, however, that membership fees aren't the complete requirement for assistance from the Maine Municipal Association — they now require that the town official making the request must also have a majority-partisanship standing, even if the majority is wrong!
Maine's Bureau of Taxation may have an interest in reconsidering the MMA's non-profit status, and municipal governments may want to reconsider their memberships in that organization!
Heck Hath No Fury Like A Perry Selectwoman Scorned — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME
East Coast LNG Facing Many Challenges — Natural Gas Intelligence, Sterling, VA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The LNG industry is indicating that their New England capacity is being overbuilt by over 400%. Downeast LNG, Quoddy Bay LLC, Calais LNG, and Tidewalker Associates are all [WITHDRAWN BY APPLICANT] the same dead horse. They haven't got permits, they don't have LNG supply, and they aren't under construction. Even in the impossible event that one of their projects got built, they wouldn't have any LNG supply or customers. It's another case of wrong idea, wrong place, and wrong time.
Talks Fuel Speculation on Nova Scotia Gas Project — Planet ARK, Sidney, AU
LNG hearing examines safety — Sun Herald, Biloxi, MS
FERC approves El Paso Cypress U.S. South gas line — Reuters
Sucking, Spewing, and Burning LNG and the Texas Gulf — Austin Chronicle, Austin, TX
While the energy industry considers imported LNG as simply another form of exploitable hydrocarbon, critics point to several fundamental problems, including safety, long-term availability, and potentially broad environmental consequences.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Not a lot has changed since the end of 2004, except for the recent energy industry's realization that LNG facilities are overbuilt — including 400% LNG overcapacity for New England. The Passamaquoddy Bay LNG projects are superfluous.
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Green Coast Related
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Firm sets solar power production record — UPI, Washington Times, Washington, DC |
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Putin asserting control over state firms — AP, Dallas News, Dallas, TX
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Gazprom has indicated that it wants to own U.S. LNG facilities, including Dominion Cove, the Maryland terminal darling of Downeast LNG's Dean Girdis.
Gazprom's designs on U.S. LNG infrastructure, Russian politics, and Gazprom incompetency — along with FERC pushing for increased dependence on LNG — can only spell disaster for U.S. energy security.
26 June 2006 |
Engineer seeks permit on second tidal power project — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
The Trescott engineer who has gained the attention of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with his proposal to build both a tidal power dam and a liquefied natural gas facility on U.S. Navy property in Cutler now has a third energy project to offer.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Bad ideas keep crawling out of the woodwork. Laberge's Half Moon Cove dam project failed in the 1970s. In the last 30 years technology has improved, and Laberge's outdated concept for a tidal dam has been surpassed. Laberge and Smith's idea for a dam to serve as a "bridge" exit route from Eastport to the mainland in case of an LNG emergency is unacceptable.
Cutler project gets approval for feasibility study — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Laberge didn't mention if Beachwood Bay Estates made a response regarding his proposed LNG project that would be on the doorstep of their condominium development. It would be well to recall that at the last Sunrise County Economic Summit (2005 November 18), the keynote speaker — Daraius Irani — while discussing the impacts of the Cove Point, Maryland, LNG terminal, indicated that from a real estate perspective, LNG terminals are considered disamenities and LULUs, in the same category as nuclear power plants, superfund cleanup sites, and landfills. It would be suprising if Beachwood Bay Estates would accept an LNG terminal next door.
On a related issue, Laberge declined to name his other partners, in the same method that Don Smith of Quoddy Bay LLC won't name his partners. Could it be that they're all in it together?
Committee releasing details on LNG siting study — WPRI-TV, Providence, RI
A look at big picture needed for gas facilities [Editorial] — Republican, Springfield, MA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Well, they got it half right. The big picture needs to take into account that the U.S. should be spending a lot more time and money on renewable energy that doesn't make the U.S. more dependent on foreign control and pricing. The FERC doesn't seem to understand that there are other sources of energy besides those controlled by big oil and gas.
Newsday should defend LI Sound [Letter to the editor] — Newsday, New York, NY
Public comments sought on issues tied to LNG site — Oregonian, Portland, OR
US working gas in storage rises 79 Bcf to 2.476 Tcf: EIA — Platts [Free registration required]
In the East, inventories are now 360 Bcf [Billion cubic feet] above the five-year average, while stocks are 71 Bcf above the average in the West and 211 Bcf above in the producing region. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jun 22)
25 June 2006 |
Study: Impacts of LNG costly, benefit limited — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The Domtar paper mill is only two miles from the existing Maritimes and Northeast pipeline, and yet, Domtar indicates that using that fuel source isn't economically viable for the mill. That makes sense, since Domtar currently satisfies its energy needs by burning waste wood and black liquor — both are waste products from the paper-making process. (Black liquor is the fifth largest source of energy in the U.S.)
Furthermore, Domtar could make their energy operations more efficient — and less polluting — by gassifying the black liquor, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If the mill's viability actually is tenuous, then gassifying black liquor would be the first step in cutting ongoing energy costs.
The pro-LNG argument that, without the proposed LNG terminals, Domtar may close is a red herring.
Canadian group opposing LNG incorporates — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Downeast LNG has ignored the SIGTTO LNG-terminal siting standards that indicate in dozens of places in their LNG terminal siting standards literature that Passamaquoddy Bay is an inappropriate and unsafe location for LNG facilities and tanker traffic. There are also several other immoveable obstacles that they're about to bump their heads into: problems related to environment, culture, safety, sovereignty — and the fact that they're impossibly behind the competition.
Quoddy Bay LNG representatives questioned at Pembroke meeting — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Milan Jamieson, one of the two selectmen present, noted that an increase in valuation would produce a decrease in state school subsidy, and would be subject to depreciation over time, factors that could have an unpredictable effect on net revenue to the town. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jun 23)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Since Quoddy Bay LLC would have the power of eminent domain, putting all the power into Quoddy Bay LLC's hands, any agreement negotiation — such as installing gates — between a landowner and the LNG developer is unlikely to result in satisfaction for the land owner. However, since the project is doomed, anyway, it makes sense to refuse to negotiate at all. Why make it appear that landowners are in favor of a project that takes control of their land, and why waste time and energy on a failed project?
Authority for Perry selectmen to hire attorney stirs debate — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Perry board's authority to hire law firm raises legal question — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
FERC approves three new LNG terminals and two expansions — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: We're now over the estimated number of required LNG terminals, as indicated in the National Petroleum Council's study, and according to an LNG industry news release, we're way over. The proposed local LNG projects are superfluous, and their tickets have been cancelled — except for the buses taking the developers home.
Watershed council discusses LNG issues — Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME
Of particular interest to the council was the proposed pipeline extension of about 35 miles in length from an LNG site in Perry to Princeton, where it would connect with the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline system. As presently designed, the extension would include a section that would cross under the Dennys River near Gilman dam. Several council members voiced concerns that serious negative consequences to the protected salmon river and its watershed could result. The potential for harm to the trout fishery in the area was also noted.
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23 June 2006 |
LNG could hurt bay economy, study says — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Downeast LNG's Girdis' wants us all to believe that Downeast LNG won't be using a contractor, but will be hiring employees on a piecemeal basis. In reality, a contractor will be hired, who will then job out the specialized work to experienced companies with their own employees.
LNG demand growth risks fall in shipping standards — Reuters
Yea pointed to the growth in "flag of convenience" ships which fly alternative flags to the country of ownership, potentially allowing them to avoid taxes and quality control and labour regulations, as evidence of deteriorating standards. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jun 20)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) — of which the Maine Maritime Academy is a member — works with the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) to establish the LNG industy's competency standards.
In the above news story, the IAMU is warning of deterioration of LNG industry standards.
FERC should be requiring observation of SIGTTO standards, rather than abetting violation of them, as they have been doing in permitting some LNG terminal sites — putting the public, industry, and U.S. energy security at risk.
When will Congress hold FERC to a high standard?
Council blocks LNG facilities near homes — Examiner, Baltimore, MD
Panel to release findings on where to locate LNG facilities — WPRI-TV, Providence, RI
Residents give comments on LNG projects — Mississippi Press
"The people in Jackson County are going to have to eat the pollution so Chevron can make more money."
Another hit against LNG [Opinion column] — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK
Second appeal filed in LNG court ruling — Daily News, Galveston, TX
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is the same company that is under criminal investigation for the Texas City, TX, BP oil refinery explosion. BP has evidenced that it lacks a proper corporate safety culture, and yet, FERC ignores that issue — even admitting that it would grant an LNG import terminal permit to Adolf Hitler!
21 June 2006 |
U.S. LNG Imports Falling Fast, Surprising Analysts -- 2006 Currently Trending Below 2003, Conference to Examine Why — Market Wire
Since July 2004, inbound LNG cargoes have fallen from 28 to just 12 in March 2006. Meanwhile, developers have expanded import capacity to more than 5.0 bcfd -- four times the level necessary. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jun 20)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The U.S. LNG industry is beginning to realize their folly in their frantic race to over-build LNG import terminals everywhere and anywhere. The "build more" bubble is about to pop!
Knowing that their projects have no chance at being completed, due to being so far behind their competition to supply New England, their overwhelming public resistance around Passamaquoddy Bay, their violation of SIGTTO LNG-industry standards, their inability to meet state regulations, their inability to transit through Head Harbour Passage, and now the industry news above, Downeast LNG's Dean Girdis and Rob Wyatt, and Quoddy Bay LLC's Don and Brian Smith, have all got to be crying in their beer over their failed efforts. Get ready to shove their scurvey dinghies away from our shores.
FERC OKs Cutler study: Engineer plans tidal power plant — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Canadian Group Formalizes Opposition To LNG — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME
LNG foes will need more fuel — Oregonian, Portland, OR
LNG terminal company officially files with FERC — Seaside Signal, Seaside, OR
Many property owners were feeling pressured by the company to allow surveyors access to their land, according to Columbia RiverVision librarian Samantha Duncan. Northern Star will need to build a pipeline to connect their facility with the Williams pipeline that runs along the I-5 corridor.Top
16 June 2006 |
Only build as many LNG terminals as are needed [Opinion column] — Salem News, Salem, MA [Paid registration required]
Fishermen, others speak out against LNG proposal — Salem News, Salem, MA
FERC approves Dominion expansion — MSN Money
Dominion allowed to raise imports — Washington Post, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This is more evidence of FERC's bias in favor of big fossil fuel companies, to the detriment of public safety.
Senator makes new attempt to kill LNG terminal — Examiner, Baltimore, MD
Effect of proposed ban on LNG sites not clear — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD
Gazprom plans to enter U.S. LNG market — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: A Russian gas monopoly owning a US company is something that the US doesn't need, since it will likely damage the nation's energy security, but is something that FERC will greet with open arms.
FERC approves five Eastern LNG projects — Energy Online, Los Altos, CA
LNG terminal gets federal OK; plans remain on hold as states seek Supreme Court ruling — News Journal, Wilmington, DE
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Although FERC's approval of this terminal — along with the other four new and expanding terminals that it approved on June 15 — rings the death knell to the LNG projects in Passamaquoddy Bay, it is nevertheless distressing that FERC approved any BP LNG project at all, since BP has proven that it lacks a corporate safety culture.
The approval is an example of FERC's willingness to allow, literally, anyone to construct and operate an LNG terminal in the U.S. — including BP, or sociopaths like Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Charles Manson, or (by extension) Osama bin Laden, as FERC officials have admitted they would allow.
Council members hear from Save the Bay about LNG port opposition — Jamestown Press, Jamestown, RI
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Councilor Szepatowski has suggested a novel, if not risky, way for communities to impose some measure of control over LNG terminal siting.
Norwegian firm moves ahead with LNG project south of Mobile — Dateline Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Judge to rule on LNG retrial motion — Daily News, Galveston, TX
Bish Cove gas terminal gets nod — Kamloops This Week, Kamloops, BC
LNG security report to be held back — Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR
LNG open house draws 300 - and protest — World, Coos Bay, OR
As natural gas glut looms, producers eye the weather — Washington Post, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: FERC's approval of three new LNG terminals and expansion of two others — tripling LNG capacity and sending natural gas to the Northeast — puts five more nails in the local LNG projects' coffins. It now has to be painfully obvious to the developers that the Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC projects are not needed, that they've lost the race big-time, and that they're wasting time and money by the shipfull. Get ready to decorate their departing dinghy!
12 June 2006 |
Down East self-service [Letter to the editor] — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
Our state government says it's Washington County's turn for economic opportunity. As it turns out, some of the public servants tasked with helping create that economic opportunity through the Pine Tree Zone program took their jobs a little too personally — they wound up helping themselves. Four key players who developed programs for jump-starting businesses Down East are now key beneficiaries of the programs they set up. [NOTE: The Banfor Daily News online letters page contains no link to take you directly to a particular letter. To find the letter using the above link, search the page for "Down East self-service".]
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It's no coincidence that some of the public servants mentioned in the above letter have also been vocal advocates of LNG in Passamaquoddy Bay. Ironically, because of the "LNG everywhere" mentality that they have fostered, their own project of developing the Cutler Naval Station property into condos is being bitten from behind by the Cutler LNG project proposal.
Goldboro Petrochemical and LNG Project Moving Forward — Ocean Resources, Dartmouth, NS
Err on side of caution with LNG technology [Editorial] — Press-Register, Mobile, AL
Gov. Riley would not take the chance that an open-loop terminal would do lasting damage to the Gulf Coast marine environment and to Alabama's fishing and seafood industries. While ConocoPhillips pledged to do no environmental harm (and even offered the state some handsome economic incentives if Gov. Riley blessed the proposal), the scientific evidence is inconclusive.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: It's unfortunate that Maine's Governor Baldacci won't take similar leadership in protecting fishing resources in Passamaquoddy Bay.
Speakers are announced for Monday LNG meeting — World, Coos Bay, OR
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: This open house follows the same LNG-developer, FERC-sanctioned "divide and conquer" technique: rather than let everyone hear everyone else's questions and the developer's answers, isolate the questioning as much as possible, and keep the public from solidifiying an opinion.
FERC is the culprit. The goal should be to keep the public as completely informed as possible. FERC makes no requirements regarding these open houses — they don't even require that the events be advertised!
Maine's Congressional delegates (Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, Rep. Michaud, Rep. Allen) are as much at fault, for allowing this FERC-sanctioned travesty to continue. When will they author legislation to put FERC on the right track?
Weyerhaeuser, port sign final land sale papers — World, Coos Bay, OR
Western Governors Focus on Energy Issues — Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX
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Green Coast Related
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Betting on cars powered by batteries and gas — CBC News, Canada |
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10 June 2006 |
The LNG question: does liquefied natural gas have a viable future in Maine? — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
According to government projections, the 18 LNG proposals that already have been approved by federal regulators in Canada, the United States and Mexico should have enough capacity to help meet the continent's natural gas needs for the next 20 years.WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: People may remember Jim Lewis, the Quoddy Bay LLC-paid showman who ate Cheerios after they'd been doused with LNG. He's the same guy who kept repeating, "LNG doesn't burn or explode," even though — like liquid gasoline — once it is makes contact with the air, it can burn or explode.
The overwhelming, superior competition to the Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC proposals hasn't yet stopped Girdis and Wyatt or the Smiths, since — as Girdis announced at Downeast LNG's presentation in Robbinston — their financial backers embarked on these projects knowing that success was improbable. But, another likely reason is that the local guns are getting well paid for as long as they can make these projects last — they've got a personal financial stake in dragging the process out for as long as possible, even though by now they must realize that their efforts are futile.
LNG opposition draws strength from varied sources — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The fact is that elected U.S. federal officials have taken no stand — other than failing to answer their constituents' question, "Are you in favor, or not, of the LNG projects in Passamaquoddy Bay?"
Our elected federal delegation (Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, Rep. Michaud, and Rep. Allen) should be supporting the SIGTTO LNG-industry best-practices standards, and should be legislating that FERC abide by those standards.
...To ignore SIGTTO LNG-industry safety standards — as FERC continues to do — is to neglect public safety, industry safety, and United States' energy security and economy.
Save Passamaquoddy Bay Challenges Rep. Michaud [and Sen. Snowe and Sen. Collins] on Maine LNG Development — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The original LNG Law Blog headline only mentions Rep. Michaud. The last sentence in the body of the item does mention that we also challenged Senators Snowe and Collins on the same issue.
Frankly, we find it curious that LNG Law Blog singles out Rep. Michaud in the headline, especially when Michaud responded promptly, but Snowe and Collins required a telephone call a month later, resulting in their issuing an inadequate joint response. In all three cases, the delegates failed to answer our question; thus, our challenge reported in the blog.
Rep. Allen, who doesn't represent the Passamaquoddy Bay area of Maine, has failed to respond, entirely.
Maine-Canada energy alliance touted — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: And yet, the U.S. government, through FERC, is disrespecting Canada's sovereignty by pushing ahead with the Passamaquoddy Bay LNG projects that require transiting LNG ships through Canadian waters while Canada is saying "no" — not to mention egregious U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and Office of the Interior violations of Passamaquoddy Indian trust rights.
Saint John city official backs secret tax deal for LNG plant — Dominion, Montreal, QC
ConocoPhillips says it is halting work on LNG proposal — Platts [Free registration required]
EPA lambasted at LNG hearing — Malibu Times, Malibu, CA
According to the EPA, Cabrillo Port would annually emit nearly 279 tons of various air pollutants, including 66.05 tons of nitrogen oxide [NOx]. [Bold emphasis added.] (Jun 7)
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: That's over 3⁄4 ton of air pollutants per day. Nitrogen Oxide — NOx — is the "noxious emissions" that Brian Smith admitted Quoddy Bay LLC would be emitting in major quantities. NOx is a problematic, unmitigated source of several types of pollution, like ozone inversions, smog, and acid rain.
FERC Commissioner Brownell to leave post in August — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
FERC Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell will forgo a second term.... (Jun 9)
FERC nominees offer differing perspectives on LNG imports — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
Greenspan says LNG imports will determine natural gas prices — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Of course, an OPEC-like cartel for LNG could really "set" the price. The US needs to get smart and build alternative energy sources, instead of increasing its reliance on foreign fossil fuels that could result in bringing the U.S. to its economic knees.
Fire at LNG plant — Newsday, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Doomed Quoddy Bay LLC talks about obtaining their LNG supply from Trinidad & Tobago. The three LNG "incidents" in a month at Trinidad give even more reason to doubt Quoddy Bay LLC's source of supply, the Smiths' business judgement, and the fate of the project.
8 June 2006 |
Baldacci's party [Editorial] — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Comprehensive energy plan? —Maybe in state government buildings and vehicles (which we applaud), but certainly not comprehensive for Maine, which has no "energy plan." Reducing the need for foreign oil? —Perhaps, while also fostering a substitute from the same volatile political regions — foreign fossil-fuel LNG.
Gas industry may have to slow output: [National Energy Board] — Globe & Mail, Toronto, ON
URB approves [Bear Head] LNG plan — Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS
Long Island Sound, Energy and the Environment - an important public forum — Stamford This Week, Stamford, CT
How can we best meet the energy needs of the region? What are our choices?
Gas pipeline proposal protested — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD
Ehrlich’s attorney tried to muffle LNG opposition — Examiner.com, Baltimore, MD
Ehrlich ally promoted LNG plant in Dundalk — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD
[Gov. Ehrlich's lawyer and longtime friend, David Hamilton] wrote to [Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr.'s aide Damian O'Doherty]: "Insofar as opposition goes, these are the kind of judicious, moderated comments that we request the County Executive to consider, if he is inclined to speak publicly on the subject. Of course, you understand that we hope for no comments and, pursuant to our meeting today, we will relay information to AES promptly so that AES may address this issue with you and/or the county executive as soon as possible."
Letters, faxes, and e-mail [Letter to the editor] — Press-Register, Mobile, AL
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The letter writer, ConocoPhillips' Global Gas President Sig Cornelius, states that Compass Port's opponents are hysterical naysayers, disseminating inaccurate information. Here's evidence that he is being less than 100% accurate in his own statements: (1) Onshore facilities are not less costly than submerged-buoy offshore terminals, and (2) Mustang Engineering's Smart® Vaporization technology, using warm ambient Alabama offshore air to regasify LNG, wouldn't utilize an open-loop system, can reduce CO2 and NOx emissions up to 93% compared to other closed-loop technology, and would be less expensive to operate than other closed-loop systems. His conclusion that open-loop technology is environmentally superior doesn't address Mustang Engineering's technology.
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Green Coast Related
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Solar Power Large or Small — BSRNews.com |
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6 June 2006 |
Sparrows Point LNG plant raises fears — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD
How much Elba security is enough? — Savannah Morning News, Savannah, GA [Free registration required]
"There's legitimate reason to question whether the security of the facility is sufficient to prevent terrorist attacks on the tanks from the sea side," he said. (Jun 5) [Bold emphasis added.]
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: "Incidents" seem to be attracted to the Elba Island LNG terminal. It's the same terminal that had an "incident" this past March 16: wake from another ship tore an offloading LNG tanker from its berth, breaking its connection to the terminal's LNG piping. The Elba Island location violates SIGTTO LNG-industry world-class terminal siting standards. Similarly, SIGTTO standards preclude using Passamaquoddy Bay for LNG terminals.
Why doesn't Congress — including Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, Rep. Michaud, and Rep. Allen — press for legislation requiring FERC to adhere to SIGTTO LNG-industry standards?
Letters, faxes, and e-mail [Op-ed column] — Press-Register, Mobile, AL
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The writer seems to believe that fish eggs and larvae have some type of news system that warns them to keep from being sucked into LNG open-loop regasification equipment, and that they can maneuver out of the way! The guy is the president of the Alabama Seafood Association — but, after his above op-ed, I'll bet on a short term of office!
Energy corridors across the West raise concerns — Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX
In California, ExxonMobil, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric and others have proposed corridors across Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Lassen Volcanic national parks as well as the Mojave National Preserve, several military bases, Anza Borrego Desert State Park and seven national forests.
Corridors also are proposed for Canyonlands National Park in Utah and Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Las Vegas. Routes near the Cascade Mountains and the Rocky Mountains also have been proposed, some as much as five miles wide and 2,000 miles long.
Developer of gas terminal wants extension [and threatens to sue] — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Sound Energy Solutions hasn't lived up to its contractual obligation, but now thinks that it shouldn't have to. The Energy Act of 2005 is apparently giving this developer the idea that it can violate contracts, because it seems to think that, through FERC's nearly omnipotent siting authority, they hold all the power. This presents yet another financial burden to the public: communities may be confronted with frivolous, yet expensive, lawsuits from deep-pocketed friends of FERC.
We have our Congressional delegation to thank for this problem.
Two more companies plan LNG proposals — Ventura County Star, Ventura, CA [Free registration required]
LNG Lobbying Added To List of Duties — PCHPress.com, Malibu, CA
WestPac LNG Corporation: Approval Process Begins for Prince Rupert LNG Terminal [News release] — CCN Matthews, Toronto, ON
Shell's Sakhalin-2 in river dispute, denies cover-up — Planet ARK, Sidney, NSW, Australia
Liquefied Gas Projects Technically Risky - Gazprom Chief — Russia Journal, Russia
"We are skeptical about attempts to represent LNG as a universal means to improve energy security for gas purchasers," he said.
2 June 2006 |
Cutler Naval Base turns to new condos — WLBZ-TV, Bangor, ME
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: In light of the new LNG proposal at the Cutler Naval Base, the new condos there present an interesting conumdrum.The politicos and special intertests who support LNG development in way Downeast and who also have a financial or political interest in the Cutler condo development should provide an interesting-to-watch, agonizing "dance."
Ehrlich vows to fight LNG plan, decries call for ethics probe — Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, MD
At yesterday's meeting with community activists at the Dundalk headquarters of the Greater Dundalk Alliance's LNG Opposition Team, [Maryland's Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.] told county residents that he has long been against the LNG proposal because he shares their concerns that it would be too close to homes. [Bold emphasis added.]WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Unfortunately, Maine's Gov. Baldacci doesn't share Gov. Ehrlich's concerns about residential safety.
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1 June 2006 |
ConocoPhillips reluctant to change LNG plan — Press Register, Birmingham, AL
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Do Quoddy Bay LLC and Downeast LNG have committments from LNG suppliers? They haven't said so, so they probably don't. It's one more reason to believe that these two projects are doomed.
LNG meeting turns into Q&A session — World, Coos Bay, OR
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Although the Jordon Cove LNG project director admits that LNG ships will have a negative environmental impact on that area, the Passamaquoddy Bay project — magically — won't, according to developers.
The Center for LNG Comments on California Risk Assessment of LNG Deepwater Port [Press Release] — PR Newswire
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: CLNG, unlike project-neutral SIGTTO, is a project advocate. Apparently CLNG doesn't subscribe to SIGTTO's world-class best practices standards that advise against terminal siting that would include any probability of a large release of LNG.
Consultant: Regulatory Hurdles and Asian Demand Impact U.S. Efforts to Acquire More LNG — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC
WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Here's another nail in Quoddy Bay LLC's and Downeast LNG's projects' coffins.
US working gas in storage rises 80 Bcf to 2.243 Tcf: EIA — Platts [Free registration required]
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