And Sabal Trail

http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article81271832.html

http://www.thescsucollegian.com/market-news/benchmark-capital-advisors-lowers-stake-in-spectra-energy-corp-se/43087

http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Gas-Pipeline-Uses-160-Eminent-Domain-Suits-To-Get-Property-In-3-States.html

Seminole Electric provides power to the electrical coops in the state of Fla and more

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/seminole-electri-adding-solar-to-fuel-mix/90385

As previously reported Georgia Governor Nathan Deal slipped into bill  SR 954 easements for Sabal Trail to begin drilling under the Chattahoochee, Flint, and Ochlockonee rivers as well as the Okapilco and Hanna-hatchee Creeks BEFORE a permit has been issued.  That’s right Sabal Trail and Gov. Deal were trying to begin drilling under these waterways before all permits for this dangerous pipeline was even permitted!

Well Spectra Energy those campaign payments may have made Governor Deal want to do this but the Georgia Legislators said NO!  They said no in a big way with a 128 Nay to 34 Yay vote.

Congratulations to all of the citizens, environmental groups and to the people in Georgia who are working very hard to protect themselves, the land and the Floridan Aquifer from this seriously dangerous pipeline!

Thank you to Georgia Legislators for standing firm for what is just and right.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/business/dealbook/once-a-coup-energy-transfer-deal-becomes-a-nightmare.html?_r=0&referer=

The SBOCC and public hike of the Sabal Trail route of the proposed boring under the Suwannee River is (events facebook or meetup and press release):

Thursday February 18, 2016 at 8:15 am. All interested individuals will meet at:

Judicial Annex Building
218 Parshley St SW
Live Oak, FL 32064

There will be a Suwannee Valley Transit bus to carry people to the site. The bus is available for officials and the public to ride based on capacity, thus you may want to follow in your vehicle if necessary.

Note this is a hike through woods near the river in sinkhole filled terrain, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. You may also want to bring water to drink.

This hike will be very telling by what you see rather than what Sabal Trail has said concerning sinkholes in their pipeline route.

deb

Suwannee County BOCC voted 3 – 2 to pass a resolution to remain neutral on the Sabal Trail pipeline despite citizen and environmental group opposition. The vote was Commissioners Fleming and Sessions against  with Bashaw, Gamble, and Wainwright voting in favor of the resolution.

Debra Johnson asked the chairman to read resolution for the public. Then pointed out that they were bordering on censorship.

Lori McCraney also spoke in opposition of this resolution stating that FERC and the Army Corp of Engineers have not made decisions on the Sabal Trail pipeline and as pointed out by Commissioner Fleming the SBOCC members need to go onsite and see the numerous active sinkholes in the pipeline path at the Suwannee river crossing.

We were reassured that the public would be allowed to speak on the pipeline subject during citizens comments at the end of the meetings.

This is really no change as far as the public input is concerned as SBOCC has never allowed any citizen or group a place on their agenda concerning the Sabal Trail pipeline.

The citizens opposing the Sabal Trail pipeline have always been relegated to public comment at the end of meetings anyway.

What the resolution does do though is prevent the SBOCC from having to address any future issues whether the citizens, water and so forth are in obvious danger. Which we all know they are.  When questioned about this the board responded that they would simply pass a resolution.

FPL’s lobbyist, Kyle Cobb, who is always present at the SBOCC meetings where resolutions to ban the pipeline (2014) and another the Suwannee River crossing (Dec 1, 2015) were scheduled to be passed was present at this meeting and all others between. Mr. Cobb has been at every meeting concerning the Sabal Trail pipeline at which the board then reversed it’s decision to pass a resolution against the pipeline, except for the meeting at which SBOCC passed a resolution to move the Hildreth compressor station.

Makes one wonder what control he or rather Spectra, Duke Energy, NextEra have over SBOCC.

deb