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Passamaquoddy Bay & LNG

2007 February

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Google News: Passamaquoddy & LNG
2007
February
28
N.B. moves to halt LNG
Voters OK tax deal with LNG developer
Premier calls on FERC to halt LNG applications (Feb 27)
New Brunswick supports Canada [Commentary] (Feb 27)
It's OK to change direction [Editorial] (Feb 27)
Moving beyond threats [Editorial] (Feb 26)
Canadian LNG stance sparks heated reaction (Feb 23)
Indian Township sets February 27 for LNG referendum (Feb 23)
Threats of peaceful commerce anything but [Letter to the editor] (Feb 23)
Opinion (Feb 20)
LNG letter won't deter developers (Feb 20)
Public asked to write LNG letters (Feb 20)
Canada still opposed to LNG sites (Feb 13)
Perry split over LNG deal: Broader committee favored at meeting (Feb 13)
LNG fears realized? [Editorial] (Feb 13)
New Brunswick granted intervener status at Maine LNG terminal hearings (Feb 13)
20
Canadian LNG plant proposal hits roadblock
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and its impact on the U.S. natural gas supply/demand imbalance (2007) (Jan 2007)
12
Indian Township prepares for LNG vote (Feb 9)
Petition seeks declaration of bay as marine protected area (Feb 9)
Perry split over LNG deal (Feb 9)
Anadarko mothballs Canadian LNG project
Candidates question LNG efforts (Feb 11)
Natural gas too important to fall prey to NIMBY attitudes [Opinion] (Feb 11)
Excelerate Energy makes first LNG transfer in England
10
N.B., Maine to share the power
Fall River alleges secret deal between Romney administration, LNG firm
Patrick urging U.S crews on LNG tankers bound for Massachusetts (Feb 6)
Oxy slows plan to build LNG terminal in Texas
The Future of Gas-Fired Power Generation, New Publication Announcement from Report Buyer [Press Release]
Company seeks pipeline contracts
Green Coast Related
US Urged to Ramp up Geothermal Power
9
Fundy Baykeeper concerned by threat of more ships in bay
Feds OK gas terminal off Gloucester
Carcieri rejects Hess safety plan
Natural gas terminal opposed
5 from Congress urge Corps to reject LNG
Maryland governor wants feds to stop AES plan (Feb 8)
More - not less - LNG headed our way
Firm sues to revive gas plant plan
No support for 'gas OPEC'
8
Reasons behind Calais LNG breakup remain elusive
Passamaquoddys, LNG firm at impasse (Feb 7)
Over 50 Turn Out For LNG Info Session In Perry (Feb 7)
Perry Selectmen Sign LNG Agreement (Feb 6)
Anadarko out of gas
Anadarko Petroleum writes off Bear Head
Broadwater: Floating Folly [Commentary] (Feb 4)
Environmental leaders question favorable report on LNG terminal (Feb 1)
Bill blocking LNG plant passes (Feb 6)
Md. report details flaws in LNG proposal
Residents return after Hankamer gas line blast (Jan 29)
Q&A on LNG venture (Feb 3)
Northern Star CEO reveals more details of LNG transit (Feb 6)
Role of Attorney and Chumash Leader in LNG Debate under Fire
Keely Shaye Brosnan: BHP's LNG not the answer (Feb 4)
LNG plan's demise worries opponents (Feb 4)
New LNG gateways (Feb 5)
Top

28 February 2007

N.B. moves to halt LNG — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

"I think the citizens of Washington County, the citizens of Maine and the citizens of the United States should be very concerned by what the Canadian government is trying to do, which is to stop economic development in Washington County by dictating what sort of developments they want to occur on the U.S. side of the border," Downeast LNG President Dean Girdis said.

Webmaster's Comments: Girdis ignores the fact that his project would wreak economic and environmental harm on New Brunswick and Maine, as demonstrated by the Whole Bay Study. Girdis's project isn't about economic development for Washington County — it's about making enormous profits for his investors and a large paycheck for himself.

Voters OK tax deal with LNG developer — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

INDIAN TOWNSHIP — Voters Tuesday night overwhelmingly approved a tax agreement between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and an Oklahoma-based liquefied natural gas developer.

The referendum question put forward by Nicholas and approved by Indian Township voters Tuesday would exempt the developer from real estate and personal property taxes. It also would allow the Pleasant Point reservation to reduce the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance tax it can impose on a construction project from 3 percent to 1 percent.

"This is wonderful news. I am pleased to see such overwhelming support," said Quoddy Bay LLC's Brian Smith.

Webmaster's Comments: The Bangor Daily News article headline and story misrepresent the facts. What actually happened was the voters approved the following question, quoted in its entirety from a sample ballot:

"Do you favor Indian Township entering into an agreement to share in the revenues of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility on the Passamaquoddy Reservation at Pleasant Point?"

Residents voted only to share the revenues. Taxes aren't mentioned.

A "Community Guide" for the referendum — a three-paragraph explanation — states that the money would be shared "on a per capita basis" with Indian Township. Apparently, the Indian Township Government would receive no money at all for their operations, but the individual residents would share equally in the lease payments distribution.

Regarding the above "overwhelming support" quote by Brian Smith: It would be surprising if anybody, anywhere, declined an offer of a free annual $8,000 payment into their individual pockets in exchange for their vote. How much would the residents of the Pleasant Point community be receiving individually from the LNG deal? Zero. But then, Quoddy Bay LNG didn't need their votes.

Correction: Webmaster Comments previously indicated that the ground lease between the tribe and Quoddy Bay LLC would pay a maximum of $12 million to the tribe. In fact, the lease indicates that maximum payment would be $4 million per quarter, equaling $16 million per year, maximum. Since the lease also indicates that payments would be reduced by 25% if the storage tanks were located on land other than at Pleasant Point, then the maximum payment to the tribe is reduced to $12 million. The per-capita payment to tribal members would then be a maximum of roughly $8,000 per person per year, not the $6,000 previously stated.

Premier calls on FERC to halt LNG applications — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB

"Following the Government of Canada's decision to deny LNG vessels permission to transit through Head Harbour Passage — a position we fully support — New Brunswick, as an intervener in the FERC process, has requested a suspension to further consideration of the applications in these proceedings," Graham said.

Moving beyond threats [Editorial] — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

The issue is further complicated because an LNG terminal is being built in Saint John, New Brunswick. Tankers headed to that facility will pass through the Gulf of Maine, although Maine residents had little voice in this project.

It is up to U.S. regulators, which are also considering LNG facilities in other parts of the country, to determine if the proposed facilities meet standards. (Feb 26)

Webmaster's Comments: The Bangor Daily News editorial staff would profit by discussing issues with the news department prior to issuing their opinions. If they had done that in this instance, they might have learned that:

  1. The Saint John, New Brunswick terminal does not entail transiting a challenging, hairpin-turning, whirlpool-infested route that passes close to ledges, people, and civilian "assets" in both the US and Canada. The Saint John route is a straight shot, in considerably less challenging waters than in Passamaquoddy Bay. (Factoid: As indicated in the 1910 treaty between the US and Britain specifying the exact international boundary in Passamaquoddy Bay, Head Harbour Passage, Western Passage, and Friar Roads — and, therefore, Cobscook Bay — are all within Passamaquoddy Bay.)
  2. The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ignores the world-class LNG-industry best practices standards (SIGTTO) that over 90% of the world's LNG industy subscribes to, and that warn industry participants against locating LNG piers in the conditions that are present in Passamaquoddy Bay. The LNG industry's standards, alone, should have short-circuited these projects before they got this far.

Canadian LNG stance sparks heated reaction — The Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME

"In order to access the Quoddy Bay site, LNG ships would need to transit through Head Harbour Passage, which Canada has now claimed to be sovereign waters," stated Quoddy Bay LNG Project Manager Brian Smith.

Downeast LNG issued a statement echoing the position put forward by Quoddy Bay LNG. "The Canadian position is not based on any documented concerns about safety.... (Feb 23)

Webmaster's Comments: "Earth to Brian Smith" — Since the War of 1812, Head Harbour Passage has been Canadian waters, without dispute.

"Earth to Dean Girdis" — Even the LNG industry itself, through the Society of International Gas Terminal and Tanker Operators (SIGTTO), in their documented, published best practices standards, indicate in around 30 places against siting an LNG terminal under the conditions in Passamaquoddy Bay.

Indian Township sets February 27 for LNG referendum — The Quoddy Tides, Eastport, ME

Sipayik Tribal Council voted to offer Indian Township about 40% of the profits from a land lease with Quoddy Bay LNG. (Feb 23)

LNG letter won't deter developers — Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB

U.S. Senator Kevin L. Raye [Raye is a Senator in the Maine legislature, not a US Senator — webmaster] has denounced Ambassador Wilson's letter, saying it represents "a serious challenge to U.S. sovereignty" and advises that, "every American should be concerned about the dangerous precedent it would establish for a foreign country to control access to our ports."

  1. The "US ports" to which Raye refers don't exist;
  2. It is US LNG developers who are challenging Canada's sovereignty, not the other way around;
  3. Raye's accusation that Irving is shaping public opinion is an attempt to "convict through innuendo," without supporting evidence;
  4. The implication that the two proposed LNG terminals could compete with Irving's Canaport terminal is unrealistic, since the Canaport terminal will have secured customers and be delivering natural gas to those customers long before Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG could be built and running.
  5. The LNG that will be provided by the permitted Canaport terminal and the two offshore terminals at Gloucester, Massachusetts will most likely fulfill the additional New England demand for years to come;
  6. Raye is related to outspoken supporters of the Quoddy Bay LNG project whom would likely benefit financially from the project;
  7. Raye suggests that the US should block natural gas coming through Maine from Canada — advocating against US energy security.