All posts by John S. Quarterman

OpEd: Spectra Energy: Trust Facts Not Promises –Mike Benard

September 10, 2014Bedford County, Compressor, Connecticut, Ethics, Law, New York, PennsylvaniaAlgonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline, Andrea Grover, compressor, Connecticut, Ethics, Law, Marylee Hanley, Mike Benard, New York, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Shale Property Rights, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Steckman Ridge, transparencyJohn S. Quarterman

By Mike Benard today in the Peekskill, NY Daily Voice. -jsq

OpEd: Spectra Energy: Trust Facts Not Promises,

Speaking from experience with Spectra Energy, property owners and communities can expect the company (NYSE: SE) will not do what it says it will in terms of transparency and accountability; and the company will develop amnesia when questioned about its actual track record relating to safety and federal fines.

Managing by fact is simple. If communities and local governments want to know what to expect from Spectra Energy, ask folks who live with its facilities today.

For example, property owners in Bedford County, Pa. (about Continue reading OpEd: Spectra Energy: Trust Facts Not Promises –Mike Benard →

Fourth Dougherty County meeting against Sabal Trail pipeline

September 7, 2014Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Georgiacompressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Flint Riverkeeper, Georgia, Gordon Rogers, Jennifer Maloney, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

A resident who lives next to the proposed compressor station site, and Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper, were among those seen in this meeting and not in previous Dougherty County meetings.

Courtney Highfield wrote for WFXL 5 September 2014, Residents concerned about Sabal Trail pipeline,

About a year ago is when the county first learned Sabal Trail’s interest in bringing a natural gas pipeline to the county. There have been several meetings since then to get the community involved.

County commissioners, former commissioners, and other officials say the pipeline won’t bring any jobs or money to the area and they warned of the noise and annoyance it will cause.

Jennifer Maloney is a resident who spoke out and said Continue reading Fourth Dougherty County meeting against Sabal Trail pipeline →

Video: LNG exports are because of fracking methane glut –Chief of LNG-export-approving Office of Fossil Energy

September 7, 2014Ethics, FE, Law, LNGBill Huston, Ethics, FE, Government, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Paula Gant, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

See the head of DoE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) spell out that fracking has caused a glut of metane and the fossil fuel industry wants to market it by exporting it, in a hearing about H.R. 6, which would authorize LNG exports to all 159 WTO member countries.

William Huston commented September 6, 2014 at 11:23 pm:

Great article, thanks.
I found video of Dr. Gant’s testimony. May want to embed this in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esLENoz2bG4

Continue reading Video: LNG exports are because of fracking methane glut –Chief of LNG-export-approving Office of Fossil Energy →

Protest at Sabal Trail Pipeline Valdosta office

September 5, 2014Georgia, Lowndes CountyGeorgia, John S. Quarterman, Lowndes County, Michael Noll, office, protest, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, ValdostaJohn S. Quarterman

Dr. Michael Noll posted in a facebook event:

Join us at the corner of Park Avenue and Patterson Street for a protest against Sabal Trail Pipeline this Tuesday, September 9, 4-5 pm! (You can find parking in the back of the building.)

He added: Continue reading Protest at Sabal Trail Pipeline Valdosta office →

Nova Scotia to ban fracking

September 4, 2014Ethics, Fracking, New Brunswick, Nova ScotiaAndrew Young, Ethics, Fracking, Government, John S. Quarterman, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Nova Scotia is banning fracking. Onshore, but not offshore, and not pipelines. But at least the Nova Scotia government listened to environmentalists, the grassroots, and rural people about that much. Will our local and state governments listen about the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline?

Bruce Erskine wrote for The Herald Business 3 September 2014, Nova Scotia to ban fracking, Continue reading Nova Scotia to ban fracking →

Action letter to County Commissioners against Sabal Trail pipeline

September 2, 2014Economy, Environment, Florida, History, Law, Suwannee County, WaterDebra Johnson, Economy, environment, Florida, History, Law, ordinance, resolution, sinkhole, subsidence, Suwannee Alliance for Sustainable Growth, Suwannee County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Update 2014-09-12: Still more signatures.
Update 2014-09-08: Still more signatures.
Update 2014-09-07: More signatures.

Debra Johnson posted this on the Suwannee Alliance For Sustainable Growth facebook group 1 September 2014:

SABAL TRAIL PIPELINE ACTION NEEDED—If you desire add your signature to this multi-group email please enter it in the comment section.This email will be sent from SAFSG and other groups to BOCC officials here and in surrounding counties. It is available for use anywhere Sabal Trail pipeline is a threat—Simply change the county and/or state name in the body. We will start sending it out Tuesday Sept. 2nd. You should read it even if you do not sign as it contains important information.

The Suwannee County, FL Commission meets today, 2 September 2014. When does yours meet? Here is contact information for Florida counties. Here is contact information for Georgia and Alabama county commissions and city councils along the proposed pipeline path, as well as for state and federal elected officials. Remember also to comment with FERC on docket # PF14-1. Here’s the letter. -jsq

Dear Commissioner,

We are sure that you have heard of the Sabal Trail/Spectra Energy Pipeline and the resolution passed by Hamilton County BOCC August 22, 2014, to prohibit its path through the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County (link below). It appears that that resolution has been successful. But the problem has not gone away in that Sabal Trail has already sent FERC and Rep. Ted Yoho a letter suggesting that they move the pipeline yet again! (link below).

We would also like to bring to your attention to other local government actions that have been implemented to protect the citizens of those counties. Our hope is that your county government will consider adopting one of these strategies in this crucial effort to protect their citizens, water, land, etc. from this gas pipeline which will provide zero benefit to the people of Florida Continue reading Action letter to County Commissioners against Sabal Trail pipeline →

Warren County, VA resolution against Spectra pipeline

September 1, 2014Economy, Environment, History, Law, Trees, Virginia, WaterAppalachian Trail, Duke Energy, Economy, environment, FPL, History, John S. Quarterman, Law, resolution, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, Trees, Virginia, Warren County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

A second Virginia county board passed a resolution against Spectra’s proposed route for Duke’s Pennsylvania-to-North-Carolina pipeline just as Spectra “suspended” its activities. Warren County, VA realized that a few personal property business taxes and lodging and meals taxes during construction wouldn’t be nearly enough to balance “federal and state designated historic districts, state and federal designated historic sites, state designated scenic byways, state designated scenic rivers, agricultural and forestal districts, the Appalachian Trail, Civil War battlefields and historic sites, and conservation easements”. Are not Florida, Georgia, and Alabama’s agriculture, springs, rivers, and Floridan Aquifer as important as Virginia’s Appalachian Trail and historic sites?

Alex Bridges wrote for NV Daily 8 August 2014, Supervisors oppose gas line route,

FRONT ROYAL—Warren County leaders this week joined opponents of a $4 billion, natural gas pipeline slated to run through five states.

Duke Energy issued a request for proposals to build the pipeline to connect resources in western Pennsylvania to its facilities in North Carolina. Spectra Energy Partners responded to Duke’s request and proposed a corridor through Warren County and other jurisdictions.

Here’s Duke’s PR of 1 April 2014 about its pipeline RFP, Continue reading →

Duke withdraws Suwannee and Polk plant plans

August 30, 2014Economy, FERC, Florida, Polk County, Solar, Suwannee Countyconservation, Duke Energy, Duval County, Economy, efficiency, FERC, Florida, John S. Quarterman, Polk County, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee CountyJohn S. Quarterman

Opposition to the Sabal Trail pipeline may be having more widespread effects. The same day FERC told Sabal Trail to pay attention to karst limestone sinkhole opposition, Duke announced it wasn’t going to “modernize” that plant. Two days later, Sabal Trail told one of that opposition that it was considering moving its Suwannee River crossing upstream, that is, away from Duke’s Suwannee Plant, Coincidence?

Ivan Penn wrote for Tampa Bay Times 26 August 2014, In flip-flop, Duke Energy will buy existing power plant, not build one, Continue reading Duke withdraws Suwannee and Polk plant plans →

FPL to purchase NextEra gas fracking subsidiary in Oklahoma

August 30, 2014Alabama, Economy, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hazards, LNG, Martin County, SolarAlabama, Debra Johnson, Economy, Ethics, FE, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, Floridian LNG, FPL, FSC, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, LNG, LNG export, Martin County, NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Gas Producing, NextEra Energy Resources, Oklahoma, PetroQuest, Riviera Beach, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, SpectraBusters, Transco, Williams Company, Woodford Shale, WSGP Gas ProducingJohn S. Quarterman

FPL integrated ownership of fracking and pipelines to LNG export for its profit, at the expense of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida landowners, U.S. natural gas customers, and of course FPL ratepayers: that’s what FPL is hoping to wrap up at the Florida PSC.

FPL wants to buy the 50% its parent NextEra Energy bought of “independent” PetroQuest’s Oklahoma fracking operation back in 2010 before FPL put out its December 2012 RFP for what ended up being the Transco -> Sabal Trail -> FSC methane pipeline to Martin County, Florida, plus an FPL pipeline from there to the sea at Riviera Beach. where meanwhile three LNG export operations have been authorized and a fourth LNG export operation has reqeusted a permit from FERC.

FPL’s PR of 25 June 2014 doesn’t mention most of the above, not even that NextEra already owns half of PetroQuest’s Oklahoma fracking operation. FPL proposes innovative plan to invest in natural gas to save customers millions of dollars and lower long-term fuel costs, Continue reading FPL to purchase NextEra gas fracking subsidiary in Oklahoma →

Supervisors oppose any Spectra alignment through Rappahannock County , VA

August 29, 2014Agriculture, Economy, VirginiaAgriculture, Duke Energy, Economy, John S. Quarterman, Rappahannock County, RFP, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, VirginiaJohn S. Quarterman

One month before Spectra “suspended” its Pennsylvania to Carolina pipeline plans, a Virginia county passed a resolution saying it didn’t want it. Not just please don’t cross our river like Hamilton County, Florida. Don’t come through here at all, said Rappahannock County, Virginia.

Piedmont Environmental Council, Rappahannock County Passes Resolution Opposing Spectra Alignment

A resolution titled “Rappahannock County Opposition To The Construction of An Underground Natural Gas Transmission LIne within Its Jurisdiction,” was passed by the Rappahannock Board of Supervisors on July 7, 2014. The resolution urges Duke Energy to select another proposed corridor for its energy needs.

Here’s the resolution. Continue reading Supervisors oppose any Spectra alignment through Rappahannock County , VA →