Category Archives: Fracking

Alabama Sierra Club against the Sabal Trail methane pipeline

April 10, 2014Alabama, FERC, Fracking, Hazards, Marengo County, Safety, TreesAlabama, Bob Hastings, FERC, Fracking, Hazards, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Marengo County, Sabal Trail, Safety, Sierra Club, Southeast Market Pipelines Project, SpectraBusters, Transco, Trees, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Robert W. Hastings, Alabama Sierra Club contact for the joint Alabama, Georgia, and Florida Sierra Club statement against the pipeline, and author of a FERC ecomment against the pipeline, was elected Chairman of the Alabama Chapter 9 March 2014.

He wrote in the April Alabama Sierran about the Sabal Trail pipeline,

Seems like everyone wants to build a pipeline these days. I’m sure almost everyone has heard about the Keystone XL pipeline, and our Mobile Group has done a good job of publicizing their opposition to the oil pipeline to be constructed through a major water supply area for the city of Mobile. But there are several other pipelines being proposed for Alabama. One of these is the so-called Sabal Trail Pipeline that would carry natural gas extracted through hydraulic fracturing from Pennsylvania and Texas through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The new pipeline would begin in Alexander City, where it Continue reading Alabama Sierra Club against the Sabal Trail methane pipeline →

Spectra and TransCanada competing in LNG export in British Columbia

April 6, 2014British Columbia, Economy, Environment, Frackingaquifer, British Columbia, Canada, EA, Economy, environment, environmental assessment, export, FPL, Fracking, John S. Quarterman, Keystone XL, LNG, methane, National Energy Board, NEB, Pacific, Sabal Trail, Sabal Trail Transmission, Southeast Market Pipelines Project, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tar Sands, tariff, tax, TransCanada, Transco, Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

TransCanada, of the notorious Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline, is also competing with Spectra Energy for fracked methane export through an LNG export terminal on the British Columbia coast, and Spectra just got another approval for its “corridor” for not one but two giant pipelines to the Pacific Ocean.

Gordon Jaremko wrote for GPI 4 April 2014, NEB OKs Spectra (Westcoast) Tolls; Major Expansion Planned to Serve Pacific LNG,

Spectra Energy (Westcoast) received approval from the National Energy Board (NEB) for the stable base of its agenda: a 2014-2015 tolls and tariff settlement with customers of its current capacity of 3 Bcf/d.

The deal enables the BC grid to focus on a plan aimed at almost quadrupling its capacity by becoming the principal conduit between northern shale deposits and proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals on the Pacific Coast.

The settlement was not opposed or even questioned Continue reading Spectra and TransCanada competing in LNG export in British Columbia →

Protests work, even against TPP, TAFTA, and EU demands for U.S. methane exports after Ukraine

April 1, 2014FrackingAngela Merkel, Barack Obama, EU, Europe, export, Fracking, Germany, John S. Quarterman, LNG, methane, nuclear, pipeline, protest, Russia, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, T-TIP, TAFTA, TPP, U.S., UkraineJohn S. Quarterman

European leaders and the U.S. president are aware of opposition to fracking, even in Europe.

Robin Emmott and Jan Strupczewski wrote for Reuters 26 March 2014, Obama tells EU to do more to cut reliance on Russian gas,

U.S. President Barack Obama told the European Union on Wednesday it cannot rely on the United States alone to reduce its dependency on Russian energy, as relations with Moscow chill over its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

There is some bad news:

Speaking on a visit Continue reading Protests work, even against TPP, TAFTA, and EU demands for U.S. methane exports after Ukraine →

Panel Discussion, Sabal Trail Pipeline, Valdosta State University

March 28, 2014Corrosion, Explosion, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Health, Leak, Lowndes County, Noise, Safety, WaterElections, Georgia, Lowndes County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, Valdosta State UniversityJohn S. Quarterman

PDF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, 28 March 2014 — Come to the SpectraBusters community panel about the Sabal Trail methane Pipeline Saturday at Valdosta State University, to learn how the pipeline could affect you, your property, and our community. Discussion will be followed by a question and answer session, in this free event, to which elected and appointed officials and candidates and the public are invited.

Saturday
29 March 2014
3PM to 5PM
Lowndes County
Georgia

SpectraBusters Community Panel
Student Union Theater
Valdosta State University
1500 N. Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 333-5800

Continue reading →

FERC should be promoting solar and wind, not new pipelines –Alabama Sierra Club

March 15, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Explosion, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Law, SafetyAlabama, Economy, environment, explosion, FPL, Fracking, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Law, NextEra, PF14-6, property rights, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Filed with FERC 14 March 2104 by Bob Hastings for Alabama Sierra Club about PF14-6. -jsq

Comments on the proposed Transco Pipeline Hillabee Expansion Project:

The Sierra Club is a national environmental organization promoting the protection of our natural environment and quality of life for all citizens. The Club has more than 1.5 million members and includes chapters in all states. The Alabama Chapter has approximately 3000 members.

The Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club has joined with the Georgia and Florida Sierra Club Chapters to oppose the proposed 650 mile Sabal Trail Pipeline that would carry natural gas extracted through hydraulic fracturing from Pennsylvania and Texas through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Since the purpose of the Hillabee Expansion project is to supply gas to the proposed Sabal Trail pipeline, we also oppose the Hillabee Expansion project, and consider it undesirable and not needed.

Williams Partners, Inc., owners of the Transco pipeline, has a poor record of pipeline safety, and has had at least 35 reportable accidents since 2006, including the pipeline rupture and explosion on December 3, 2011, near Linden in Marengo County, Alabama. Fortunately this explosion, which devastated 65 acres of forest land, did not occur in a populated area where loss of life could have been tragic. Williams Partners should focus on upgrading the existing pipeline for improved safety rather than expanding its capacity.

The existing Transco pipeline cuts through Continue reading FERC should be promoting solar and wind, not new pipelines –Alabama Sierra Club →

No Fracked Gas in Mass. allies with SpectraBusters

March 11, 2014Agriculture, Economy, Environment, Explosion, Fracking, Leak, Massachusetts, Safety, Solar, Trees, WaterAgriculture, Economy, environment, explosion, Fracking, John S. Quarterman, Kinder Morgan, leak, Massachusetts, No Fracked Gas in Mass, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, solar, SpectraBusters, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, TGP, Trees, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Another new ally added to the Allies page; today it’s No Fracked Gas in Mass., who bring us excellent tips on getting a resolution your local elected government’s agenda.

“Fighting Kinder Morgan/TGP’s Northeast Expansion across the Berkshires and Northern Massachusetts. Our mission is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to create a comprehensive renewable energy infrastructure.”

They have an excellent post about getting resolutions on your town meeting agenda:

If you are thinking about bringing a non-binding resolution before your town meeting, time is running out. Each town has its own deadline for adding items to town meeting’s agenda and its own requirements for resolutions — in Cummington, we needed to gather just fifteen signatures and submit them to our town clerk for verification. Ask your select board members or your town clerk what the deadline is, and what the requirements are, for your town.

You can download the Cummington resolution to use as a model (here is a .txt version); if you are wondering what the point of a non-binding resolution is, please read this.

In Massachusetts select board members are what many other places call city council members. And many towns in Mass. make it easy for citizens to get resolutions on their agendas. Why should it be more difficult anywhere else? You can contact your Continue reading No Fracked Gas in Mass. allies with SpectraBusters →

Natural gas highway proposed in the springs heartland –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson

March 8, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Hamilton County, Suwannee County, WaterAlabama, Columbia County, Economy, environment, Florida, Floridan Aquifer, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Ichetucknee Alliance, Ichetucknee River, John S. Quarterman, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, NextEra Energy, Our Santa Fe River, Sabal Trail Transmission, Santa Fe River, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, springs, Suwannee County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Merrillee did it, and so can you: write a letter to your local newspaper, or to a state or national one, for that matter.

In the Suwannee Democrat Thursday and a longer version in the Gainesville Sun today, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Natural gas highway proposed in the springs heartland -jsq.

The springs have been taking a beating in our recent history and now they are poised to brace for another blow. Spectra Energy Corp. and NextEra Energy Inc. have teamed up to build a $3 billion gas highway that will connect an Alabama natural gas bulk transfer station, cut through Georgia and bisect Florida’s springs heartland.

It would extend down to Orlando, where the gas will be dispersed into two more pipelines, ultimately benefiting Florida Power and Light. The two corporations have created Sabal Trails LLC for the surveying and construction team. Spectra Energy Corp. constructs pipelines and created Sabal Trails to get the job done, while Florida Power and Light wants the gas and is a subsidiary of the electricity supplier NextEra Energy Inc.

The Florida citing commission has ruled to allow NextEra and Spectra the right to survey and build another gas transmission pipeline through Florida’s vulnerable landscape. Land impacts will be plentiful; protected animal and plant species will have to suffer Continue reading Natural gas highway proposed in the springs heartland –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson →

Sierra Club Chapters Oppose Sabal Trail Gas Pipeline

March 4, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Pennsylvania, Solar, Texas, Trees, Watercritical wildlife habitat, drinking water, efficiency, electricity, endangered species, Floridian Aquifer, forests, longleaf pine, property rights, rivers, Sabal Trail Transmission, shale, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, springs, streams, wetlandsJohn S. Quarterman

The nation’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization opposes the Sabal Trail pipeline. Sierra Club PR today (and read to FERC):

TRI-STATE SIERRA CLUB CHAPTERS OPPOSE GAS PIPELINE
Statement of the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama Sierra Club
Chapters Opposing the Sabal Trail Pipeline
Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Contact:

Seth Gunning, Georgia Sierra Club, (404)-607-1262, seth.gunning@sierraclub.org
Bob Hastings, Alabama Sierra Club, bhastings@knology.net

ATLANTA, GA—The Georgia, Florida, and Alabama Chapters of the Sierra Club oppose the 650 mile Sabal Trail Transmission natural gas pipeline that would carry fracked natural gas extracted from Pennsylvania and Texas through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC is a joint venture between Spectra Energy Partners, LLC and and NextEra Energy, Inc. Spectra Energy and its related companies have been fined repeatedly for safety and environmental violations throughout the United States including one fine of $15,000,000.

The proposed pipeline would cut a wide swath through pristine lands with resulting negative impacts on endangered species, critical wildlife habitat, invaluable wetlands, Continue reading Sierra Club Chapters Oppose Sabal Trail Gas Pipeline →

Pipeline Reader: Who, what, when, where, how, and why not the Sabal Trail methane pipeline

March 2, 2014Alabama, Corrosion, Economy, Environment, Explosion, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Health, Law, Leak, Noise, Safety, Solar, Water, West Virginiacorrosion, Danielle Jordan, Economy, environment, explosion, FERC, Fracking, Hazards, Health, History, Law, leak, methane, natural gas, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Water, West VirginiaJohn S. Quarterman

Here’s PDF of a reader for county commissions and others who need to get up to speed on the pipeline. Feel free to add local material for your county commission or city council.

This pipeline reader contains:

About the Pipeline
Sabal Trail Pipeline Context maps —Spectra Energy and FPL — Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange www.l-a-k-e.org
Natural Gas Pipelines — www.foodandwaterwatch.org
Spectra Safety Violations — www.spectrabusters.org
Facts on Fracking — Wiregrass Activists for Clean Energy (WACE) www.wiregrassace.org/
Local Governments Can Restrict Pipelines — www.spectrabusters.org
WV Polluter Files Bankruptcy — www.spectrabusters.org
Stranded Fossil Fuel Assets — www.spectrabusters.org
Solar Jobs — Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange www.l-a-k-e.org
How to File a Comment with FERC

Continue reading →

No fracking insurance: how long until no pipeline insurance?

February 26, 2014Economy, Fracking, Safetycrater, Economy, explosion, Fracking, insurance, John S. Quarterman, Nationwide, pipeline, risk management, Safety, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

What if negative publicity around pipelines gets as big as around fracking? Given the many recent high-profile pipeline accidents, that may already be happening. What happens to pipeline companies’ own insurance then? What happens to your homeowner or farm insurance?

CBS News 13 July 2012, Insurer Won’t Cover Gas Drill Fracking Exposure,

The memo reads: “After months of research and discussion, we have determined that the exposures presented by hydraulic fracturing are too great to ignore. Risks involved with hydraulic fracturing are now prohibited for General Liability, Commercial Auto, Motor Truck Cargo, Auto Physical Damage and Public Auto (insurance) coverage.”

It said “prohibited risks” apply to landowners who lease land for shale gas drilling and contractors involved in fracking operations, including those who haul water to and from drill sites; pipe and lumber haulers; and operators of bulldozers, dump trucks and other vehicles used in drill site preparation.

And it’s not just actual claims: Continue reading No fracking insurance: how long until no pipeline insurance? →