Massive opposition to KMI Palmetto Pipeline in Waynesboro + Sabal Trail

Most of the 400 people at the final Georgia Department of Transportation hearing vehemently opposed Kinder Morgan’s Palmetto petroleum products Pipeline. There’s still time to ask GDOT to deny the Palmetto permit. Now is the time also to ask GDOT to deny any permits for the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, and for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle to oppose Sabal Trail like they just said they oppose the Palmetto Project.

That’s SpectraBusters ally Gretchen Elsner of the Georgia Climate Coalition on the Friday front page of the Savannah Morning News, Clapping in the blue shirt is Tonya Bonitatibus, Savannah Riverkeeper, one of the leaders of Push Back the Pipeline. Gretchen is also about a minute or in on WJBF’s Palmetto Pipeline Project Heard In Burke County Public Meeting, by Renetta DuBose. WJBF included two pro-pipeline speakers, which gives an erroneous impression: there were maybe 5 of those, compared to all the other dozens of speakers being against.

300x167 SB sign on WTOC, in SpectraBusters against Palmetto Pipeline, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 7 May 2015 WJBF posted video of the entire meeting so you can see for yourself. I spoke for SpectraBusters, partly about the KMI proposed cross-Florida pipeline that would ship Sabal Trail fracked methane to Jacksonville, where Jaxport is gearing up for LNG export. How much easier would it be to export “petroleum products” from Jaxport, when they’re already liquid and don’t have to be pressurized? As other speakers pointed out, the growing markets for fossil fuels are overseas.

WTOC’s version of the WFXG story, Large crowd attends final public meeting on Palmetto Pipeline, admitted:

“Very few supported it. Those folks stated trucks and ships can be faulty too.”

WTOC also included the simplest summary of the issue:

300x166 Emily Marksteyn, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, in SpectraBusters against Palmetto Pipeline, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 7 May 2015 “I just don’t think their application shows how this is a public need,” said Ogeechee Riverkeeper Emily Markesteyn. “It must be a public need not Kinder Morgan’s need.”

Same issue for Sabal Trail, so it’s time for the state of Georgia to oppose Sabal Trail, too.

Chelsi McDonald, WJCL, Hundreds attend final proposed Palmetto Pipeline public hearing, included this KMI version of what Gov. Nathan Deal meant when he said the state “is going to object”:

Vice President of Kinder Morgan Allen Fore said, “The Governor didn’t indicate he’s opposed to Palmetto Pipeline project. What he wants is the eminent domain issue to be separated and addressed by the courts.”

Submit comments to GDOT before May 15.

Mike Bolden
Georgia Department of Transportation
10th Floor Office of Utilities
600 West Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Re: Palmetto Pipeline

And you can sign Push Back the Pipeline’s petition. Stop one pipeline, put a crimp in all new pipelines.

The reporters mostly didn’t want to hear about Sabal Trail because it’s outside their coverage area. But the 400 or so people in the room all heard about it, and there may be some new SpectraBusters allies.

-jsq

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