All posts by John S. Quarterman

OSFR v. FPL: head to head in the Gainesville Sun

August 18, 2014Economy, FE, FERC, Fracking, Hazards, LNG, SolarEconomy, FE, FERC, FPL, Fracking, Gainesville Sun, Georgia Power, Hazards, Jim Tatum, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, OSFR, Our Santa Fe River, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Evidently Spectra’s Andrea Grover was too obviously failing to convince people to stop worrying and love the Sabal Trail pipeline, because FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy has taken up the mighty megaphone of methane talking points. And the Gainesville Sun ran him on the same page as Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Jim Tatum of Our Santa Fe River, today, 18 August 2014. Here are the links and a few excerpts. Read ’em for yourselves!

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Jim Tatum, Pipeline poses multiple problems,

Again, we must point out that Florida Power & Light just recently estimated that in 10 years the demand for power will increase approximately 13 percent, but the Sabal Trail’s new pipeline would have an increase of 33 percent delivery capability. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a report with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission saying that the recently completed (2011) Southeast Supply Header System was designed as an “alternative natural-gas source during hurricane-related disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico.”

That’s actually an underestimate Continue reading OSFR v. FPL: head to head in the Gainesville Sun →

Williams Atlantic Sunrise to feed fracked methane to Sabal Trail: Videos of Scoping Meetings

August 18, 2014Economy, FERC, Fracking, Law, LNG, PennsylvaniaAtlantic Sunrise, Economy, FERC, FPL, Fracking, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Law, methane, NextEra Energy, Pennsylvania, PF14-6, PF14-8, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

FERC’s scoping meetings seem just as much a farce at the other end of Williams’ Transco pipeline from the Hillabee Expansion (PF14-6) that would feed Spectra’s Sabal Trail (PF14-1), Williams is pushing its Atlantic Sunrise Project (PF14-8) to suck up more Marcellus Shale fracked methane from Pennsylvania and ship it down here to Alabama, Georgia, and Florida and out through LNG export. Activists up there videoed several Pennsylvania Scoping Meetings, so you can see the show for yourself.

Don’t believe me that Atlantic Sunrise is to feed Sabal Trail; believe Housley Carr in Oil & Gas Financial Journal 17 january 1014, MIAMI 2017 – MARCELLUS GAS HEADING TO FLORIDA, Continue reading Williams Atlantic Sunrise to feed fracked methane to Sabal Trail: Videos of Scoping Meetings →

Dougherty County fighting Sabal Trail pipeline

August 13, 2014Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Explosion, Georgia, Hazards, Leakcompressor, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, Economy, explosion, Georgia, Gloria Gaines, Hazards, John Hayes, John S. Quarterman, leak, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

At that South Dougherty League meeting yesterday, Gloria Gaines summed up Sabal Trail’s proposed compressor station near Albany, GA: “This proposal should vehemently be challenged; it should be vehemently opposed.”

Aaryn Valenzuela reported for WALB TV yesterday, Proposed Sabal Trail pipeline and compressor station raises concerns, Continue reading Dougherty County fighting Sabal Trail pipeline →

A fourth Florida LNG export request: Strom, Inc. from Starke, FL

August 12, 2014FE, FERC, Florida, LNGAlligator Creek, Atlantic Ocean, Bradford County, Carib Energy, Crowley Maritime, FE, FERC, Florida, Gainesville, Gulf of Mexico, Jacksonville, Jaxport, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Lower St. Johns River Watershed, New River, Our Santa Fe River, Santa Fe River, Scoping Meetings, SpectraBusters, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Starke, Suwannee RiverJohn S. Quarterman

Still time to object to this fourth company filing to export Sabal Trail fracked methane, adding to the three already authorized. FERC knew about this Strom LNG export request before the last three FERC Scoping Meetings, and never told us. This fourth LNG export operation will affect both the Santa Fe River watershed and the St Johns River watershed.

Strom, Inc. filed LNG export authorization requests with U.S. DoE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) 18 April 2014, all still being considered, all for liquifying in Starke, Bradford County, Florida, all for 25 years, and all explicitly saying they want to use Sabal Trail fracked methane.

In FE’s list of 2014 – LNG Export, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Re-Exports & Long Term Natural Gas Applications: Continue reading A fourth Florida LNG export request: Strom, Inc. from Starke, FL →

Timeline: Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline has no permit yet

August 12, 2014Alabama, Compressor, Economy, Environment, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hazard, Hazards, Kentucky, Law, LNG, New YorkAlabama, Economy, EIS, environment, Environmental Impact Statment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, FSC, Georgia, Hazards, Hillabee Expansion Project, intervenor, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG export, permit, process, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, timeline, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Spectra, FPL, and Williams have not even formally filed with FERC for pipeline permits yet, and that process usually takes about a year. Permitting confusion benefits Spectra about its Sabal Trail Transmission 36-inch hundred-foot-right-of-way fracked methane pipeline, because people don’t know what they can do. You can file ecomments right now, and show up and protest. As soon as the pipeline company files for the formal permit process, you can file as an intervenor, which gives you legal rights to be heard, file legal briefs, and to appeal. Plus many state and local permits also have to be filed, and people can participate in those processes. Even if there ever is a FERC permit, a landowner who makes the pipeline company actually go through the eminent domain process will very likely get a better deal. If enough landowners say Come and Take It, the whole thing may become uneconomical for Spectra, as for Williams Company when it cancelled the Bluegrass Pipeline in Kentucky.

FERC’s Pre-Filing Process

Spectra and Williams and FPL are currently in the pre-filing process with FERC, Continue reading Timeline: Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline has no permit yet →

South Dougherty League Sabal Trail pipeline meeting today

August 12, 2014Alabama, Compressor, Dougherty County, Explosion, Florida, Georgia, Hazards, Law, TexasAlabama, compressor, Dougherty County, eminent domain, Exonomy, explosion, Florida, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, South Dougherty Community League, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

Not just for Ted Turner, former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, and Greenlaw anymore: now the whole neighborhood south of Albany is objecting to that fracked methane pipeline and its compressor station. Plus the hundred people who showed up at the FERC Scoping Meeting 4 March 2014, and more who went to U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop’s (GA-02) listening session 17 April 2014. When Spectra’s Andrea Grover bragged in op-eds about the 50 public meetings, she forgot to mention that the public response was overwhelmingly against Spectra’s pipeline, and that opposition is growing.

Melody Briscoe wrote for WALB TV 9 August 2014, Meeting over concern of pipeline and compressor, Continue reading South Dougherty League Sabal Trail pipeline meeting today →

Sabal Trail pipeline considered harmful for karst limestone Floridan Aquifer –FL-DEP

August 11, 2014Explosion, Florida, Hazards, Leak, Safety, Waterexplosion, FL-DEP, Florida, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Hamilton County, Hazards, Ichetucknee River, John S. Quarterman, karst, leak, limestone, Madison County, Martin County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

There’s no safe way for the yard-wide Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline through the fragile karst limestone containing the Floridan Aquifer, according to what Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection told FERC back in April. And what’s this about seven foot pipeline depth in Florida, while Spectra’s Andrea Grover complained in the Valdosta Daily Times about requests for five feet deep in Georgia?

FL-DEP points out that caves might not support a pipeline and testing or drilling could easily cause sinkholes. Plus blasting could change local hydrology.

The situation is actually worse than FL-DEP described. We don’t know that contamination couldn’t come from BCPs carried from Spectra’s Texas Eastern pipeline, or radon from the Marcellus Shale, in addition to the solvents FL-DEP mentioned. We don’t know the pipeline would carry only a gaseous product; it could be sold and used for something else. And as DEP says, it’s not just leaks that are the problem: the pipeline would require large amounts of testing water that would have to come from somewhere and go back somewhere, presumably contaminated with whatever was in the pipeline. What guarantee do we have that contamination wouldn’t go down those borings under our riverbeds?

Filed with FERC 18 April 2014 as four pages of the 74-page “Florida State Clearinghouse comments on Dockets # PF14-1, et al Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Southeast Market Pipelines Project (Sabal Trail and Florida Southeast Connection Projects).” Some of it was also submitted to FERC by Florida’s Suwannee River Water Management District, but there is new material here; especially that superimposition map. Continue reading Sabal Trail pipeline considered harmful for karst limestone Floridan Aquifer –FL-DEP →

Norris resigns from FERC

August 7, 2014FERC, PoliticsCherly LaFleur, Harry Reid, John Barraso, John Norris, Norman BayJohn S. Quarterman

OK, maybe he was too pro-coal, but the rest of them are too pro-fracked methane, I think. At least this means the fossil fuel industry doesn’t always get everything it wants, even as Commissioners on its captive rubberstamp agency.

Bobby McMahon wrote for Platts McGraw Hill Financial 7 August 2014, UPDATE: US FERC Commissioner John Norris resigns.

More background in what Rich Heidorn Jr. wrote for RTO Insider 22 July 2014, At FERC, Uncertainty Remains Despite Norman Bay’s Nod, in which he accuses Sen. Harry Reid of politicising FERC appointments. Which is rich, since it was Sen. John Barraso of fracking Wyoming who drove former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff out. However, Norman Bay will be FERC Chair next year, despite Barraso’s objections. Cheryl LaFleur is it until them.

And we still need to stop the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline.

Sabal Trail in Quitman Free Press

August 7, 2014Brooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County, Come and Take It, eminent domain, Fort Morris, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Quitman Free Press, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Quitman Free Press posted on facebook yesterday this cryptic note:

The Sabal Trail plans to come through Brooks County. See page 12.

Brooks County landowners don’t have to surrender at the first offer of eminent domain. Like Georgians at Fort Morris to the British invaders of 1778, they can give this laconic reply:

Come and Take It!

-jsq

New pipelines are for fracking and LNG export –FE official to Congress

August 5, 2014FE, FERC, Florida, Fracking, LNG, MARADAlgonquin Pipeline, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Cove Point, Deepwater Port Licensing Program, DoE, Elba Island, FE, FERC, Florida, Fracking, John S. Quarterman, Jordan Cove, LNG, MARAD, Maritime Administration, Maritimes Pipeline, Office of Fossil Energy, Paula Gant, Port Dolphin, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Subcommittee on Energy and Power, Transco, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, United States House of Representatives, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

The U.S. DoE official in charge of natural gas testified to FERC’s oversight committee that fracking provides “unprecedented opportunities” for profit through LNG export. She, like FERC, says the opportunities are “for the United States”, and they’re both wrong. Pipelines to LNG export that would raise domestic natural gas prices and take local land and pollute local air and water is not for the U.S.: they’re for profit by a few fossil fuel companies and Continue reading New pipelines are for fracking and LNG export –FE official to Congress →