Category Archives: Florida

Alabama Sierra Club Retreat talk against Sabal Trail

October 29, 2014Alabama, Barbour County, Economy, Environment, FERC, Hazards, LNG, SolarAlabama, Barbour County, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

At the Alabama Sierra Club Retreat this weekend at Lakepoint State Park near Eufaula, I’ll be speaking and doing Q&A for an hour: 10AM Saturday 1 November 2014. If you’re anywhere near Eufaula, Alabama this weekend, I highly recommend coming to this retreat: it’s got lots of great talks and activities.

What do you important points do you think I should mention? What graphics can you send me to include in the slides? No rush: leaving Friday morning, so if you could get me your materials by tomorrow (Thursday), that would be great.

FYI, I will be talking about at least Continue reading Alabama Sierra Club Retreat talk against Sabal Trail →

Sabal Trail PR countered by actual information in the Suwannee Democrat

October 29, 2014Compressor, FERC, Florida, Hamilton County, LNG, PHMSA, SafetyAndrea Grover, Bascom, compressor, DOT, FERC, Florida, Hamilton County, Jasper, John S. Quarterman, Kristen Bridges, LNG, Open House, Patricia Tayman, PHMSA, Safety, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

On the same day, the Suwannee Democrat posted a fluff piece from a PR firm for Sabal Trail and actual reporting from the recent Open House in Jasper, FL that gives some answers Sabal Trail did not. They’re both well worth reading, the first for its absolute certainty of safety, cleanliness, and no export, and the second for its actual evidence of hazards, record of safety failures, and already-authorized LNG export operations. Oh, and Ms. Grover admitting route changes (caused by objections) blew her end-of-October filing date. The second for opponents attempting to get answers from Sabal Trail and having to get them from other protesters who have done the research Sabal Trail denies can be done. The “epitome of ignorance and greed” indeed. Please go read. Continue reading Sabal Trail PR countered by actual information in the Suwannee Democrat →

Lack of need, false pretense, and duress: FERC omitted page 3 from Bill Kendall’s letter

October 27, 2014Alabama, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Georgia, History, Law, Lowndes CountyAlabama, Bill Kendall, eminent domain, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, FPL, GA EPD, GDOT, Georgia, History, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lowndes County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, STTJohn S. Quarterman

It’s integrated into the previous post now. It’s well worth reading.

-jsq

Giant fireball from 4-inch pipeline in Gilchrist County, FL 2012-06-27

October 26, 2014Alachua County, Explosion, Florida, Gilchrist CountyAlachua County, Bell, explosion, FGT, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, Gainesville, Gilchrist County, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Wacassassa FlatsJohn S. Quarterman

The proposed 36-inch Sabal Trail pipeline next to that old FGT line would have 81 times as much gas; maybe more, since it’s apparently also higher pressure.

Gainesville.com staff reported 27 June 2013, Ruptured gas line explodes in Gilchrist,

A high-pressure natural gas pipeline exploded into a gigantic fireball and 30-foot-high flames in Gilchrist County on Tuesday night after a tree fell and ruptured the line, authorities said.

The tree also took down a power line, which officials said likely ignited the escaping gas.

Gainesville Fire Rescue’s Haz-Mat team and district chief responded to the scene in Bell at around 6:30 p.m. to assist Gilchrist County units.

An emergency crew from the natural gas company helped the rescue units find and secure a shut-off valve for the 4-inch line. The crews stood by while the residual gas burned off.

Gainesville.com posted video from Gainesville Fire and Rescue. It’s quite impressive, and unfortunately unembeddable, so follow the link to see it.

WCBJ TV reported 27 June 2012, Gas Line Explosion Lights up Road, Continue reading Giant fireball from 4-inch pipeline in Gilchrist County, FL 2012-06-27 →

Sabal Trail surveyed without permission –Beth Gordon on WCBJ TV

October 26, 2014Alachua County, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Law, Levy County, LNG, PHMSA, SafetyAlachua County, Beth Gordon, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, FPL, John S. Quarterman, Law, Levy County, LNG, petition, PHMSA, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, surveyJohn S. Quarterman

Beth Gordon told a Gainesville, FL TV reporter 1500 feet from her home is still too close for the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline. And since they moved it off her property, they won’t entertain any compensation. Same for you, if a pipeline blows up in your county or state like one did in neighboring Gilchrist County, Florida in 2012: you get no compensation, but your taxes may have to pay for emergency responders, hospitals, etc.

Jesse Pagan reported Wednesday 22 October 2014 for WCJB TV, Natural Gas Pipeline Concerns, Levy County,

“It would destroy the whole way of life here in Levy County.”
“I never gave them permission, yet I came home one day and they’d cut into my locked gate. I don’t know how they did it. I think they climbed over my fence. There were surveyor stakes all over my property.
First they wanted to put it on my property. Now they’ve moved it onto the farm next door.

The reporter said that’s about 1500 feet from her property, “Too close for her comfort.”

“And because the property isn’t physically right on our property, they will not entertain payment for it.

The reporter mentioned her petition to the Florida Public Service Commission (FL-PSC) Continue reading Sabal Trail surveyed without permission –Beth Gordon on WCBJ TV →

Strom asks FE to move LNG export application location

October 19, 2014Citrus County, FE, FERC, Florida, LNGCitrus County, Crystal River, Duke Energy, export, FE, FERC, FGT, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, FTA, John S. Quarterman, Lamb Investors, LNG, nuclear, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, StromJohn S. Quarterman

Dismissed by FERC for lack of payment? No worries, Strom, Inc.’s other LNG export application with the FE is still active, and Strom asked to move the location, too, to Crystal River. Just east on Power Line Road from Duke Energy’s permantly-closed Crystal River nuke and proposed new gas plant. Strom says it would get the fracked methane from either FGT or Sabal Trail, which is either an intrastate or an interstate pipeline depending on which of Strom’s sentences you believe. No, Strom’s CEO’s name is not Loki; it’s just pronounced that way, and spelled Lokey.

Remember in July FERC dismissed Strom’s Starke LNG application for lack of fee payment. The Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) apparently has no such scruples, since its STROM INC, FE DKT. NO. 14-56-LNG was updated 29 September 2014 with Strom Inc. – Amendment to Application to Reflect New Location of the Plant, Continue reading Strom asks FE to move LNG export application location →

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? →

Transco plans FERC filing “in the next month or so”

October 18, 2014Alabama, FERC, Florida, Georgia, LNG, Pennsylvania, Tallapoosa CountyAlabama, Alexander City, Atlantic Sunrise, export, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tallapoosa County, TranscoJohn S. Quarterman

Sabal Trail’s source of fracked methane plans to file with FERC real soon now. Williams Company’s Transco Hillabee Expansion Project doesn’t admit it’s late like Sabal Trail, nor mention that it already blew up in 2011. Nor that the same Williams spokesperson is pushing the Atlantic Sunrise project that would feed fracked Marcellus shale gas to Transco for Sabal Trail and on to three already-approved LNG export operations in Florida.

Mitch Sneed wrote for Alexander City Outloook 18 October 2014, Natural gas pipeline plans moving forward, Continue reading Transco plans FERC filing “in the next month or so” →

Only the two Open Houses in Albany and Jasper –John Peconom

October 17, 2014Dougherty County, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton CountyAlbany, Dougherty County, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, Jasper, Jen Maloney, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, transparencyJohn S. Quarterman

Not finding any news about other Open Houses, I called FERC’s John Peconom, who said there were no others scheduled of which he was aware. He added that these Open Houses were organizd by Sabal Trail. I pointed out that he was attending them for FERC, so presumably he would know if there were any others. He agreed that he would. I thanked him for saving me a lot of time trying to find others. So your two choices for Sabal Trail Open Houses this month are: Continue reading Only the two Open Houses in Albany and Jasper –John Peconom →

Sabal Trail delays formal FERC filing until “sometime later this year”

October 16, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, FERC, Florida, Gilchrist County, Law, Tallapoosa CountyAlabama, Andrea Grover, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Natural Resources, Economy, environment, FERC, filing, Fish and Wildlife, Florida, Gilchrist County, John S. Quarterman, Law, permit, SpectraBusters, Tallapoosa County, USACEJohn S. Quarterman

Sabal Trail has backed off its end-of-October FERC filing target, now saying “sometime later this year”. Opposition is having some effects!

Robert Hudson wrote for alexcityOutlook.com 1 October 2014, in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, where Sabal Trail proposes to start its hundred-foot gouge through three states, Company preparing to submit natural gas pipeline application to FERC, Continue reading Sabal Trail delays formal FERC filing until “sometime later this year” →