All posts by John S. Quarterman

Rainwater can go 4 miles down; but fracking and testing water disposal are safe, right?

Surely such chemicals completely bypass drinking water aquifers? Or if they don’t, maybe we should object to discharge of pipeline testing water, which means objecting to pipelines like Spectra’s Sabal Trail.

Neomatica’s editor posted 2 August 2014, Rainwater In The Ductile-Brittle Transition Zone: Far Deeper Into Earth’s Crust Than Thought Before, Continue reading Rainwater can go 4 miles down; but fracking and testing water disposal are safe, right?

Sabal Trail pipeline dangerous –a resident; We haven’t even looked yet –Suwannee County Commission

Yet another County Commission tries to side-step its duty to represent its own people against profiteering companies from far away, while at least one local resident keeps reminding them.

John S. Koch wrote for Suwannee Valley Times 31 July 2014, Concerned Resident says Proposed Gas Transmission Line Dangerous,

Live Oak resident Debra Johnson used the public comments portion of the [most recent] meeting [of the Suwannee County Commission] to raise safety issues about the proposed gas transmission line that would wind its way through Suwannee County and other parts of North Central Florida.

“What I am asking for is a public forum to be held by the commission dealing with this issue and to seek information that the people can use to educate themselves on this issue.”

According to Johnson, the point she was trying to get across to the commission is that Continue reading Sabal Trail pipeline dangerous –a resident; We haven’t even looked yet –Suwannee County Commission

Answer the questions you promised –Former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham to FERC

Especially about that Hillabee route. Filed with FERC today. -jsq

Senator Bob Graham

United States Senate
1987-2005

GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA
1979-1987

July 21, 2014

Mr. Philip D. _Moeller
Commissioner
Federal Energy_Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20426

RE: Sabal Pipeline PF14—1

Dear Commissioner Moeller, Continue reading Answer the questions you promised –Former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham to FERC

Long Island natural gas plant found not needed

The same calculations would find FPL’s “Southeast Market” pipeline not needed, including Spectra’s Sabal Trail pipeline.

Mark Harrington wrote for NewsDay 31 July 2014, PSEG review finds Caithness II not needed,

PSEG Long Island has found that the proposed Caithness II power plant in Yaphank “will not be needed” because the Island has enough capacity to meet state requirements for the next five years, according to Continue reading Long Island natural gas plant found not needed

Another newspaper against Sabal Trail: The Gainesville Sun

A newspaper in Gainesville, with more than twice the population of Ocala, picked up the same newspaper editorial against the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, reiterating that unless serious risks can be addressed, the pipeline isn’t worth it, and besides, it’s not clear Florida even needs the power other than to profit big utilities (and pipeline companies, and apparently Florida Governor Rick Scott). Hm, marching northwards, Ocala, Gainesville, next Lake City, then how about Valdosta, Moultrie, and Albany? Newspapers and TV stations in those places have covered the pipeline. Time for their editorial boards to do what just happened in Ocala and Gainesville.

30 July 2014, Editorial: A pipeline’s purpose, Continue reading Another newspaper against Sabal Trail: The Gainesville Sun

Gov. Scott tied to Everglades drilling: driller kicked out of Florida

Rick Scott’s financial ties to fracking got that driller kicked out of Florida. Now that Gov. Scott has been tied to the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, maybe Florida will kick Spectra out of the state, too.

Steve Bousquet wrote for the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau 13 June 2014, Scott’s stake in oil company tied to Collier drilling riles environmentalists, Continue reading Gov. Scott tied to Everglades drilling: driller kicked out of Florida

FL Gov. Scott scandal in Lake City Reporter

“Putting a pipeline anywhere near in a sinkhole-laden environment could be horrific if something went wrong,” said Our Santa Fe River President Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, “Our organization is still very much opposed.”

Governor has financial stake in natural gas pipeline, by Megan Reeves, Lake City Reporter, 27 July 2014., also mentioning Greenlaw and EPA, and further quoting Malwitz-Jipson.

Here’s an op-ed by Our Santa Fe River.

Does the state really need a new pipeline to supply more power plants? –Ocala StarBanner

A newspaper editorial dared to ask the most basic question.
Editorial: A power play, Ocala StarBanner, Saturday 26 July 2014, http://www.ocala.com/article/20140726/OPINION01/140729777?p=all&tc=pgall

“But the overarching question is whether the state’s big utilities really need more power plants.

“If not, the pipeline isn’t worth the risk — especially when conservation and alternative energy sources could save customers and the environment.”