Category Archives: EPA

Spectra stock cut to hold; can CEO Greg Ebel explain 5 Feb 2015?

January 17, 2015British Columbia, Economy, Environment, EPA, Florida, Law, Leak, LNGBritish Columbia, Economy, environment, EPA, Greg Ebel, Hold, John S. Quarterman, Law, leak, LNG, methane, Sabal Trail, Sabal Trail Transmission, SEC, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, stock, Tudor PickeringJohn S. Quarterman

Maybe fossil fuel pipelines aren’t such a lucrative business after all? Funny how this Spectra downgrade comes right after the big announcement about EPA proposed methane rules. Can Spectra Energy CEO Greg Ebel explain this away to investors three weeks from now? How about OPEC driving the price of gas down and energy deals among U.S., China, and Russia tanking the U.S. LNG export market? Ebel’s got some ‘splainin’ to do.

Faye Duncan wrote for Dakota Financial News 16 January 2015, Spectra Energy Corp. Cut to “Hold” at Tudor Pickering, Continue reading Spectra stock cut to hold; can CEO Greg Ebel explain 5 Feb 2015? →

Obama to move to cut methane emissions

January 14, 2015Compressor, EPA, Law, LeakBarack Obama, compressor, emissions, EPA, FPL, Government, John S. Quarterman, Law, leak, methane, Sabal Trail Transmissions, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

EPA regulations are not just for coal anymore, emphasizing that fracked methane pipelines are not the answer: how about we go straight to sun and wind power? Today we’ll see how serious president Obama is about methane emissions. Meanwhile, there’s already an opportunity to comment on an EPA methane rule proposed in December.

Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, 13 January 2015, Barack Obama moves to cut methane emissions by almost half: Environmental Protection Agency will cut oil and gas industry methane emissions as president seeks to bolster climate legacy,

The new methane rules “ which will be formally unveiled on Wednesday—are the last big chance for Obama to fight climate change.

The Environmental Protection Agency is aiming to cut methane emissions by up to 45% from 2012 levels by 2025, White House officials told campaigners during a briefing call.

But it was not clear whether the new rules would apply to existing oil and gas installations, in addition to future sources of carbon pollution, which could Continue reading Obama to move to cut methane emissions →

EPA natural gas greenhouse gas reporting proposed rule 2014-12-09

January 14, 2015Climate Change, Compressor, Environment, EPA, Law, LeakAlbany, Climate Change, compressor, Dougherty County, environment, EPA, FPL, Georgia, Government, greenhouse gas, John S. Quarterman, Law, leak, pipeline, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

There’s still time to comment on one methane rule proposed by the EPA, which was partly prompted by outside comment to start with. So far, the only comments are by fossil fuel industry consortiums. Why should they have all the fun? Here’s how to post your own comments. And there may be another rule announced today.

Posted by the EPA, 9 December 2014, Greenhouse Gas Reporting: 2015 Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems,

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions and confidentiality determinations for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. In particular, the EPA is proposing to add calculation methods and reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions from gathering and boosting facilities, completions and workovers of oil wells with hydraulic fracturing, and blowdowns of natural gas transmission pipelines between compressor stations. The EPA is also proposing well identification reporting requirements to improve the EPA’s ability to verify reported data and enhance transparency. This action also proposes confidentiality determinations for new data elements contained in these proposed amendments.

Pipelines between compressor stations would affect the compressor stations proposed for the Sabal Trail pipeline. The proposed rule also spells out in numerous places that it’s about distribution pipelines, too. And the proposed rule was partly motivated by requests from concerned parties: Continue reading EPA natural gas greenhouse gas reporting proposed rule 2014-12-09 →

Sabal Trail to TECO to Jaxport for LNG export?

October 18, 2014Alabama, Duval County, EPA, Ethics, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, LNG, PoliticsAlabama, campaign, contribution, Duval County, EPA, Ethics, FGT, Florida, FPL, Fracking, Georgia, Gulfstream, Jacksonville, Jaxport, John S. Quarterman, LNG, LNG export, Nathan Deal, Politics, Rick Scott, Robert Bentley, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sempra Energy, SONAT, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tampa, TECOJohn S. Quarterman

Marcellus Shale fracked methane through Atlantic Sunrise to Transco to Sabal Trail to TECO to Jaxport for LNG export? And maybe an explanation for why Sempra Energy, like Spectra Energy, donated to both GA Gov. Nathan Deal’s and AL Gov. Robert Bentley’s re-election campaigns. Sempra apparently wants to export Marcellus Shale gas from Jacksonville, and Sabal Trail is the proposed conduit for that through Alabama and Georgia to Florida.

John Burr wrote for Jacksonville Business Journal 10 March 2014, TECO Peoples Gas looks to expand natural gas pipeline to Jacksonville, Continue reading Sabal Trail to TECO to Jaxport for LNG export? →

It don’t pass the smell test: FPL’s extra natural gas pipeline –SpectraBusters

October 9, 2014Alabama, EPA, FE, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, LNGAlabama, British Columbia, Duke Energy, eminent domain, EPA, FE, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, Fracking, FSC, Georgia, Greg Ebel, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, LNG, NextEra Energy, ordinance, Oregon, Paula Gant, permit, public benefit, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tony Clark, Transco, Washington, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

FPL wants federal eminent domain to gouge a hundred-foot right of way for a yard-wide fracked methane pipeline through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, claiming Florida needs new power. That don’t pass the smell test.
http://spectrabusters.org/2014/09/14/we-grow-increasingly-concerned-dougherty-county-commission-to-ferc/

Nationwide electricity demand continues to decline, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reminded the pipeline-permitting Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in April. EPA asked FPL why it couldn’t implement conservation, efficiency, compressed gas storage, or other energy sources. http://spectrabusters.org/2014/04/23/explain-why-the-gas-is-needed-epa-to-ferc/#decreasing-electricity-sales

FPL projected 13% electricity demand increase in its 2014 ten-year plan to the Florida Public Service Commission (FL PSC). A third pipeline would be a 50% increase. Why? http://spectrabusters.org/2014/04/24/fpls-own-projections-dont-support-need-for-a-new-pipeline/

Sabal Trail, the pipeline joint venture of FPL and Spectra Energy of Houston, claims Duke Energy needs Continue reading It don’t pass the smell test: FPL’s extra natural gas pipeline –SpectraBusters →

Spectra haunting Albany, GA 10AM Monday 29 Sep 2014

September 28, 2014Dougherty County, EPA, Fracking, GeorgiaDougherty County, EPA, Fracking, Georgia, Government, John S. Quarterman, Nathan Deal, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Anybody want to ask Spectra what they expected from Gov. Deal when they contributed $10,000 to his campaign?

There’s a facebook event:

222 Pine Ave, Albany, GA 31701
Our local government officials have listened to our outcry and organized a public meeting featuring but not limited to Spectra, EPA and Gov Deal reps. Please join us, lets show them we are a UNITED Dougherty county!!

Carlton Fletcher wrote for the Albany Herald 24 September 2014, Albany’s Jon Howard, Dougherty County’s John Hayes host pipeline meetings: Officials’ community meetings are called to inform public about proposed natural gas pipeline,

The Dougherty County and Albany City commissions will hold a joint meeting Monday at 10 a.m. to discuss the pipeline. Federal and state officials, as well as representatives of Spectra Energy, which is building the pipeline, are expected to attend.

Who’s holding the meetings: Continue reading Spectra haunting Albany, GA 10AM Monday 29 Sep 2014 →

FL Gov. Scott scandal in Lake City Reporter

July 28, 2014: Leak, Columbia County, Environment, EPA, Florida, Hazard, WaterEPA, Greenlaw, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, OSFR, Our Santa Fe River, Rick Scott, sinkholeJohn S. Quarterman

“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.

Gone national and press conference this morning: FL Gov. Rick Scott pipeline share ownership

July 25, 2014Economy, Environment, EPA, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Orange CountyBeth Gordon, Carlos Smith, corruption, environment, Ethics, Florida, Florida Democratic Party, Linda Stewart, Orange County DEC, Rachel Maddow, Rick Scott, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, stockJohn S. Quarterman

Gone viral and now a big issue in the Florida governor’s race: Broward Bulldog, Tampa Bay Times, Time.com, Florida Democratic Party, WFTV, YouTube, Rachel Maddow’s producer, and Climate Progress, all from the Miami Herald story revealing FL Gov. Rick Scott owned shares in Spectra Energy before his appointees approved its Sabal Trail pipeline. Maybe you’d like to mention this corruption scandal at the Climate Rally and EPA hearings in Atlanta Tuesday next week. And there’s a press conference 11AM this morning at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida.

Tampa Bay Times picked up 21 July 2014 in The FPL-Rick Scott investment connection what Dan Christensen wrote for the Broward Bulldog 21 July 2014, Rick Scott privately profited in FPL pipeline deal approved by governor’s appointees,

Before the story, here’s the governor’s whole statement: Continue reading Gone national and press conference this morning: FL Gov. Rick Scott pipeline share ownership →

Climate Rally and EPA hearings Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta

July 24, 2014Environment, EPA, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, LawAtlanta, Atlanta Climate Rally, Clean Power Plan, Climate, conservation, EPA, FPL, Georgia Power, Law, north Florida, Quality, river, Sabal Trail Transmission, Seth Gunning, Sierra Club, south Georgia, Southern Company, watershed, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

EPA is holding public hearings on its proposed Clean Power Plan next week, 29-30 July 2014, in Atlanta. Maybe you want to mention shifting from coal to “natural” gas (fracked methane) actually may make matters worse here, with proposed pipelines like the hazardous 36-inch monsters Sabal Trail through south Georgia and Renaissance through north Georgia, on environmentally damaging hundred-foot rights of way through our fields, forests, wetlands, and under our rivers. so EPA needs to go further. You can also comment online until 16 October 2014 on Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602. And you can express your opinion outside with Georgia Sierra Club at the Atlanta Climate Rally Tuesday at high noon. And remember, mercury in the Alapaha River probably comes from coal Plant Scherer, near Macon, Georgia.

While that proposed carbon rule may help clean up coal plants like Scherer, it says nothing about methane, which EPA says is Continue reading Climate Rally and EPA hearings Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta →

Come and Take It: Make the pipeline company have to use eminent domain

July 22, 2014Constitution Pipeline, Economy, Environment, EPA, Ethics, FERC, Georgia, History, Law, Lee County, Liberty CountyBattle of Gonzales, British, Come and Take It, FERC, Fort Morris, Georgia, History, invasion, Johm McIntosh, Law, Lee County, Leonidas, Liberty County, Mexicans, Persians, Sparta, SpectraBusters, ThermopylaeJohn S. Quarterman

Call the pipeline company’s bluff, says one landowner, and and at worst you’ll get a much better offer. At best, if enough people do it, the pipeline will become too expensive and won’t get built. Like the Texians at Gonzales, the Georgians at Fort Morris, and the Spartans at Thermopylae, we can stop an invasion, this time by peaceful means. Come and Take It!

Chip Northrup wrote for No Fracking Way 8 July 2013, COME AND TAKE IT — Why Forcing a Condemnation Is The Best Option,

Here is my laypersons view:
IF I SIGN:
1) I give away my right to sue.
2) I enter into a business deal with unknown future liabilities.
3) I have continuing extra insurance expense.

BY TELLING THEM to TAKE MY LAND: Continue reading Come and Take It: Make the pipeline company have to use eminent domain →