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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.
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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.
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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)
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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)
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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.]
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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
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