Category Archives: Florida

Confirmed: Resolution against Sabal Trail today at Suwannee County Commission 2015-11-17

November 17, 2015Compressor, Florida, Suwannee County, WaterBeth Gordon, compressor, Debra Johnson, Falmouth Cathedral Cave System, Florida, Hildreth, John S. Quarterman, Outstanding Florida Water, Sabal Trail Transmission, Santa Fe River, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, WWALSJohn S. Quarterman

Suwannee County residents please come speak, and everyone else please come be seen (you can speak, too). Facebook event. Come defend property rights, water, and air in Suwannee County from the Sabal Trail invader, and that helps defend where you are, too.

When: 6PM Tuesday 17 November 2015

Where: 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida, 32064

From the draft minutes of the Nov. 3rd meeting Continue reading Confirmed: Resolution against Sabal Trail today at Suwannee County Commission 2015-11-17 →

Videos: Citizens against Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail pipeline to FERC in Albany, Moultrie, Valdosta, and Lake City

October 3, 2015Colquitt County, Columbia County, Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Law, Lowndes County, WaterAlbany, Colquitt County, Columbia County, community, compressor, Dougherty County, eminent domain, environment, Ethics, FERC, Flint River, Flint Riverkeeper, Florida, Floridan Aquifer, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Lake City, Law, Lowndes County, Moultrie, Okapilco Creek, Our Santa Fe River, people, property rights, SpectraBusters, Suwannee River, Valdosta, Water, Withlacoochee River, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

Citizens renamed Sabal Trail the Sinkhole Pipeline because it doesn’t belong in the sinkhole-prone karst limestone of the Floridan Aquifer. FERC can’t say they weren’t told, since videographers followed them through all four cities so far; see for yourself.

Albany, Monday 28 September 2015, videos by Thomas Swain

Moultrie, Tuesday 29 September 2015, videos by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE)

“You tell us you’re sorry and it happens again”, said Continue reading Videos: Citizens against Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail pipeline to FERC in Albany, Moultrie, Valdosta, and Lake City →

Citizens oppose Sabal Trail in Albany, Moultrie, and Valdosta this week –WTOC, Albany, GA

September 28, 2015Brooks County, Colquitt County, Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, Law, Lee County, Lowndes County, Safety, Suwannee CountyAlbany, Brooks County, Colquitt County, compressor, Dougherty County, environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lee County, Lowndes County, Mitchell County, Moultrie, Safety, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Terrell County, Valdosta, WTOCJohn S. Quarterman

Property rights, environment, health, and safety are why citizens oppose Sabal Trail, including tonight in Albany or Tuesday in Moultrie or Wednesday in Valdosta. Be sure to show up by 5:30 PM to sign up to speak.

Caitlyn Chastain, WTOC, 28 September 2015, Public meetings ahead for Sabal Trail Pipeline, starting today,

It’s a project that has gained a lot of attention and a lot of criticism.

Many people are concerned Continue reading Citizens oppose Sabal Trail in Albany, Moultrie, and Valdosta this week –WTOC, Albany, GA →

Kinder Morgan bolts from emergency planning meeting in Savannah

September 18, 2015Chatham County, Dougherty County, Florida, Georgia, LNG, Suwannee County, TexasAlbany, Chatham County, Coastal Group, Dougherty County, Elba Island, Florida, Georgia, Houston, John S. Quarterman, KC Allan, Kinder Morgan, KMI, LEPC, LNG, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, TECO, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

The world’s largest pipeline company ran away from a hint of public scrutiny, like FERC changed its commission meeting date to try to avoid protesters. Maybe… public opinion matters?

The pipeline companies are watching all the opposition. And the opposition is shadowing all the pipeline companies. Score one for the opposition! Plus plenty of opportunities coming up for more concerted opposition against any new fossil fuel tentacles through our countryside or under our rivers.

Mary Landers, Savannah Morning News, 16 September 2015, Kinder Morgan cancels ‘spotlight’ on Elba operations, Continue reading Kinder Morgan bolts from emergency planning meeting in Savannah →

FERC sides with Sabal Trail in DEIS: Surprise!

September 14, 2015Dougherty County, Environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, Suwannee County, WaterAir, Albany, Beyond Extreme Energy, BXE, Carlton Fletcher, DEIS, Department of Environmental Protection, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, environment, fast, FERC, FL-DEP, Georgia, Hamilton County, John S. Quarterman, John Trallo, Pope Francis, Sane Energy Project, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Anybody who thought FERC would do a real Draft Environmental Impact Statement is disappointed. But they shouldn’t be surprised: FERC, 100% funded by the industries they “regulate”, is a rubberstamp machine. But that’s no reason to give up. It’s reason to stand up, and take advantage of many more opportunities to stop the unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous Sabal Trail pipeline and get on with renewable solar and wind power.

Carlton Fletcher, Albany Herald, 13 September 2015, FERC Sabal Trail ruling comes amidst protest: Group holds fasting vigil outside federal agency’s offices,

ALBANY — Even as a group started a fast in front of the agency’s Washington, D.C., offices and questions arose in Florida over the safety record of Spectra Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission made it clear this week that it had no intention of standing in the way of construction of the proposed Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Local opponents Continue reading FERC sides with Sabal Trail in DEIS: Surprise! →

FERC meetings for Draft Environmental Impact Statement 28 Sep 2015 – 8 Oct 2015

September 5, 2015Alabama, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hazardsagenda, Alabama, DEIS, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FSC, Georgia, Hazards, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Meetings, Nathan Deal, need, public benefit, Sabal Trail Transmission, schedule, SpectraBusters, STT, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Two weeks for all the public meetings, rushing to make the 20 November 2015 final EIS notice date, for a final decision 18 February 2016.

The Draft EIS released Friday 4 September 2015 is very long, but the most basic question is very short: why is FERC rushing to rubberstamp the unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous Sabal Trail pipeline and its fracked methane siblings Hillabee Transco and FSC when there’s neither need nor public benefit?

The Sunshine State should go straight to solar power.

If you don’t want any of these pipelines, you can send in your comments both to FERC and to state and local agencies and elected officials in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, and show up at these FERC meetings to protest. You can also still file a motion to intervene with FERC. And don’t forget to call Georgia Gov. Deal.

Filed with FERC 4 September 2015 as Accession Number: 20150904-3011, “Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Southeast Market Pipelines Project re Florida Southeast Connection, LLC et al under CP14-554 et al.” Continue reading FERC meetings for Draft Environmental Impact Statement 28 Sep 2015 – 8 Oct 2015 →

No LNG and no NextEra for Hawaii: straight to renewable energy –Gov. Ige

August 26, 2015Florida, LNG, SolarDavid Ige, Duke Energy, Florida, FPL, Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Company, HECO, John S. Quarterman, LNG, NextEra, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Natural gas is a bridge to nowhere, and Hawaii’s governor not only rejects LNG imports, but also NextEra’s bid for its electric utility. Can you read the writing on the wall now, NextEra and FPL? Fossil fuels are done. Solar power is the future here now.

Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business News, 24 August 2015, Gov. David Ige opposes Hawaii importing LNG, says state should focus on renewable energy, Continue reading No LNG and no NextEra for Hawaii: straight to renewable energy –Gov. Ige →

LNG trains to U.S. Gulf and East Coasts

August 18, 2015Florida, LNG, Louisiana, Maryland, TexasCameron Parish, Cheniere Energy, Corpus Christi, Cove Point, Florida, Freeport, Hackberry, John S. Quarterman, Kenai Alaska, LNG, Louisiana, lower 48, Maryland, Parallax Enterprises, Sabine Pass, sales and purchase agremeents, shal, SPA, SpectraBusters, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

If you had any doubt the fossil fuel industry wants to export fracked methane to China, India, Korea, Japan, etc., from everywhere it can, read this article about Cheniere Energy’s plans to export from Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, and Freeport, Texas, from Cameron Parish and Hackberry, Louisiana, and from Cove Point, Maryland. “Train” as used here just means a method of shipment, apparently by pipeline.

Housley Carr, RBN Energy, 17 June 2015, Begin The Sabine—Delivering Gas To The Lower 48’s First LNG Export Terminal, Continue reading LNG trains to U.S. Gulf and East Coasts →

New sinkhole in Lowndes County terrain Sabal Trail wants to gouge through

August 6, 2015Florida, Georgia, Hazards, Lowndes County, Solar, WaterAct of God, Assumption Parish, drinking water, FGT, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, Floridan Aquifer, Force Majeure, fragile, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, karst, limestone, Louisiana, Lowndes County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Shiloh Road, sinkhole, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Twice in five years a sinkhole big enough to risk rerouting a road appears in Lowndes County, Georgia, in the same fragile karst limestone Valdosta limesink terrain Sabal Trail proposes to gouge through What if a sinkhole drops under that pipeline, and, like FGT in 2013, Sabal Trail declares force majeure and doesn’t pay?

See On the LAKE Front, 2015-08-06, County and news media digging deeper on Shiloh sinkhole story, Continue reading New sinkhole in Lowndes County terrain Sabal Trail wants to gouge through →

FL Gov. Scott Sabal Trail permit conflict of interest –FloridaBulldog

August 4, 2015Ethics, Florida, Hamilton County, Law, Suwannee CountyAdam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner, conservation, Dan Christensen, Department of Environmental Protection, Energy Transfer, Energy Transfer Equity, Environmental Resources Permit, ERP, Ethics, FL-DEP, Florida, FloridaBulldog, Gulfstream, Hamilton County, Jeff Atwater, John S. Quarterman, Kelcy Warren, Law, north Florida, Pam Bondi, PVR Partners, Regency Energy Partners, Rick Scott, river, Sabal Trail Transmission, south Georgia, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, submerged state lands, Suwannee County, Transco, watershed, Williams Company, WWALS, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

Florida’s Governor Rick Scott owns Williams Co. and other pipeline company stock, and that’s an issue with FL-DEP’s intent to issue a permit for Sabal Trail, says the reporter who broke the Rick Scott conflict story a year ago.

Dan Christensen, FloridaBulldog, 4 August 2015, Gov. Scott’s pipeline investment gets a boost from Florida environmental regulators,

The Board of Trustees of Florida’s Internal Improvement Trust Fund owns the submerged lands, according to DEP’s notice. The board is comprised of the governor and Cabinet — Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state chief financial officer Jeff Atwater.

There’s much more in the story, including that WWALS Watershed Coalition intends to file a protest with FL-DEP by this Friday, August 7th. WWALS confirms that, and adds: Continue reading FL Gov. Scott Sabal Trail permit conflict of interest –FloridaBulldog →