Category Archives: FERC

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 →

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.

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 →

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

August 1, 2014Dougherty County, Environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, PoliticsAlbany, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, environment, FERC, Flint River, Florida, Georgia, Government, Graham Angus Farm, Graham Companies, Hillabee route, Kioked-Flint Group, Law, Politics, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

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

July 31, 2014Economy, FERC, FL PSC, New YorkCaithness II, Economy, FERC, FL PSC, FPL, John S. Quarterman, New York, PSEG, Sabal Trail Transmission, Southeast Market, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

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

July 30, 2014Alachua County, Economy, Environment, FERC, Florida, Hazards, Leak, WaterAir, Alachua County, aquifer, corruption, Economy, environment, FERC, Florida, FPL, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, leak, pollution, Rick Scott, rivers, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, springs, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

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 →

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

July 28, 2014Economy, FERC, Florida, Marion CountyJohn S. Quarterman

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.”

Where does Spectra’s Westcoast Energy pipeline go at the U.S. border?

July 25, 2014British Columbia, Canada, FERC, WashingtonJohn S. Quarterman

Spectra’s pipeline upgrade British Columbia farmers are countersuing: what happens where it ends at Sumas, Washington? Hint: who does Spectra Energy’s Sabal Trail Pipeline connect to? And if that connecting pipeline in Washington State can go down I-5, why can’t Sabal Trail go down I-75?

Williams Company’s Washington Expansion Project (WEP) starts right there in Sumas, WA, planning a 36-inch pipeline 140 miles down the I-5 corridor right past Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia, crosses the Columbia River, and looks like it’s headed for Portland or parts much much farther away. Continue reading Where does Spectra’s Westcoast Energy pipeline go at the U.S. border? →

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 →

Princeton asks FERC to reject, Congressmen and Senators ask for safety review

July 25, 2014Environment, Explosion, FERC, Hazards, New Jersey, SafetyCory Booker, environment, explosion, FERC, Frank Pallone, Government, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Leidy Expansion, New Jersey, Politics, Princeton, Robert Menendez signed, Rush Holt, Safety, SpectraBusters, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Last week, Princeton, New Jersey, resolved to ask FERC to reject Williams Transco’s current plan for a 42-inch pipeline. This week, U.S. Congress and Senate members from New Jersey asked FERC to “review all safety issues”. This is all partly because a Transco contractor was involved in an explosion in March. Spectra was the “probable cause” of the 1994 Durham Woods, NJ pipeline explosion and fire, according to NTSB. Seems like time for some town around here to ask FERC to reject the Sabal Trail pipeline, and for Congressmen and Senators to join in.

2014-06-04: Contractor being sued for Ewing explosion to build Transco pipeline in Princeton, Montgomery, By Nicole Mulvaney/The Times of Trenton, Continue reading Princeton asks FERC to reject, Congressmen and Senators ask for safety review →