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Passamaquoddy Bay & LNG

Candidates open to LNG site: Wind power supported, survey finds — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: The only candidate to contact Save Passamaquoddy Bay to learn about the LNG issues from our perspective was Green candidate Pat LaMarche, although our concerns weren't addressed in the newspaper article.

Republican nominee Chandler Woodcock said he favors the idea of having an LNG project, provided it's locally approved, but doesn't favor one project over another.

Without taking a position, Democratic Gov. John Baldacci said he has formed a working group to review all LNG permit applications, but notes that developers in other states have maintained that federal energy regulators have authority over LNG siting.

[Independent] Merrill said affected towns should have a say in where a plant is located. "Ideally, people there will find a way to permit an LNG plant while doing nothing to undermine" the region's scenic coastline, she said.

Fellow independent John Michael, who sees liquefied natural gas as a viable alternative to other fossil fuels, said an LNG facility "could make sense for ratepayers, and would obviously stimulate the local economy wherever it is located." He also agreed with Woodcock and Merrill in saying any project should have to get local approval in order to go forward.

Green Independent candidate Pat LaMarche dismissed liquefied natural gas as "not a long-term solution" and said a terminal in Maine has more to do with supplying other states than keeping Maine homes warm and lighted. [Bold & color emphasis added.]

Candidates were asked whether they favored having an LNG plant in eastern Maine, and if they favor any of three active plans in particular.

Gov. Baldacci, after initially backing LNG facilities here, has flipped to a non-committal approach, showing no responsible leadership on the issue, and has formed no statewide energy policy.

Apparently the other candidates don't really care what happens to the Way-Downeast economy and way of life. They have simply jumped into the pro-LNG pool head first, without looking, because it "sounds good" — without informing themselves on the issues. It will be no surprise when they come out of the pool with some enormous headaches.

The pro-LNG candidates show their intellectual disconnect with reality by opposing offshore drilling in order to "protect the scenic coastline," but supporting LNG terminals in Passamaquoddy Bay.

Grand Manan riot shows Canadians want crackdown on crime: Harper — CBC News New Brunswick

Harper referred to the Grand Manan incident four days after a group of about 40 residents burnt a house to the ground in the community of Castalia and beat up the occupants.

The riot was attributed to a group of vigilantes who were responding to reports that drugs were being sold in the house. They allegedly marched on the house carrying guns, knives, and baseball bats. [Bold emphasis added.]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: Apparently, threats to acceptable way of life in the Fundy Isles aren't well tolerated. This introduces a new dimension to the security issues surrounding the proposed LNG freighter transit through Canadian waters.

Northern Star responds to LNG protests — Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

While the terminal is proposed for Oregon, it would sit just across the river from residents of Washington's Puget Island. (Jul 26)

North American LNG Import Terminals: Status of Proposed and Existing Facilities — Natural Gas Intelligence

In addition to the approved terminals, there are another 25 projects, with 27.75 Bcf/d of proposed peak sendout, on file with regulators in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Another 21 projects, with 17.3 Bcf/d of expected peak sendout, are in the planning stages. And at least 11 LNG projects have been canceled so far. [Bold, red emphasis added.]

WEBMASTER'S COMMENTS: LNG projects are dropping out, perhaps because they realize that LNG importation infrastructure for New England is already 400% over the capacity of the market. Watch for Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LLC, to appear soon on this dropout list.