Tag Archives: Andrea Grover

Lowndes County Democratic Party against Sabal Trail on WCTV

Georgia, Lowndes County, , , , , , , , , ,

Local TV covered a local political party’s opposition to the methane pipeline.

Winnie Anne Wright wrote for WCTV today, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission To Hold Public Meetings Concerning Sabal Trail Pipeline,

Some residents of Lowndes County are ready to tell the federal government exactly how they feel about a natural gas pipeline running through their back yards.

“The Georgia Democrats feel that there’s a moral obligation to leave the world as beautiful and majestic as we found it and the pipeline, it does not do that”, says Gretchen Quarterman, Chairman of the Lowndes County Democratic Committee.

The WCTV story also quotes Spectra’s Andrea Grover and gives the particulars of the Valdosta and Moultrie FERC Scoping Meetings. It adds this detail:

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also accepting comments by mail at the following address:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street NE, Room 1A
Washington, DC 20426

Here’s the LCDP press release: Continue reading Lowndes County Democratic Party against Sabal Trail on WCTV →

Real questions at Gilchrist County Commission

Economy, Florida, Gilchrist County, Hazards, Law, Safety, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Two hours of first questions from a citizens committee with Spectra’s reps expected to answer right there in front of everybody, then questions from locals and people from many counties around, including attorneys representing landowners and other county commissions cross-examining Spectra on the spot. The Chairman of the Gilchrist County Commission said there was a general opinion among the populace that they were asking specific questions and getting only general answers. Congratulations, Chairman, Commission, staff, Committee, and everyone who asked questions for showing the world how it’s done, and for exposing Spectra’s evasions to public scrutiny.


Brian Fahrenthold (Spectra), Pete Butts (Citizen Committee), Bobby Crosby (County Administrator), Stephanie Denardo (WUFT), David M. Lang Jr. (County Attorney), Gilchrist County Commission, County Clerk, and more Spectra reps in foreground

You’ll see for yourself in the videos of the whole thing. Almost all: so much both camera batteries ran down, and it took a bit to find a plug.

One of the citizen committee questions was about Spectra’s safety record. Brian Fahrenthold assured the commission that Continue reading Real questions at Gilchrist County Commission →

Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information –Carol Singletary to FERC

FERC, Georgia, Lowndes County, , , , , , , ,

Filed with FERC 20 November 2013:

Carol Singletary, Valdosta, GA.

I am strongly contesting the information provided in the RR1 Sabal-Trail-Project initial Draft PF — final PDF, under Accession number 20131115-5084, docket number PF14-1. Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information to me, the property owner. Their filing exaggerated their efforts to contact and respond to property owners concerns.

My impression is the landowner consultations are motivated to extract an agreement from the landowner for the survey. I have submitted questions to Sabal Trail representatives at the October 16th Open House held in Valdosta, Georgia and I am still waiting for a response. I have more Continue reading Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information –Carol Singletary to FERC →

“The most terrifying experience”: Spectra blows another compressor station

Hazards, Hudson County, Leak, Maine, Waldo County, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spectra Energy refuses to say much about a compressor station leak in Maine, much like the one in Pennsylvania in March 2013. Spectra’s Susan Waller did offer that in a real emergency everyone would have been evacuated. Who wants that next to the five compressor stations Spectra proposes along the Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline it wants to gouge through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida?

Abigail Curtis wrote for Bangor Daily News 15 January 2014, ‘The most terrifying experience’: Residents question safety in wake of malfunction at Searsmont natural gas pipeline station,

First came the noise late New Year’s Eve at the Searsmont natural gas pipeline compressor station, so loud that it caused nearby homes to shake and some residents, frightened by the jet-engine-like roar, to pack up their cars and flee for the night.

Then came the questions, as some members of the normally quiet rural community wondered how safe — or dangerous — it is to live so close to the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline facility. The station was shut down for Continue reading “The most terrifying experience”: Spectra blows another compressor station →

Possible pipeline through Colquitt County –Fox31

Colquitt County, Economy, Environment, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do you believe Sabal Trail that the pipeline won’t affect the value of your land? If what Spectra Energy’s Vice President of Stakeholder Outreach & Sustainability says is true, why doesn’t Sabal Trail just buy the affected properties? They should be able to resell it later for equal or greater value.

Rheya Spigner wrote for mysouthwestga.com (fox31online) 12 December 2013, Possible pipeline through Colquitt County,

Susan Waller with the Sabal Trail Transmission says “one concern (from residents) is that it’ll impact the value of the land.” Which she adds isn’t true, but could affect vegetation.

They didn’t quote Andrea Grover, Director, Stakeholder Outreach. Maybe they discovered she, like Brian Fahrenthold, was not familiar with Spectra’s history of fines? And as a Vice President, Susan Waller would appear to be Andrea Grover’s boss. Have we gotten their attention enough that they are escalating within Spectra?

John Peconom of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) says Continue reading Possible pipeline through Colquitt County –Fox31 →

Spectra Energy — Be the Best it Can Be –Mike Benard

Dougherty County, Georgia, Lowndes County, Pennsylvania, Texas, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mike Benard sent this today to Spectra’s Andrea Grover, copied to a long list of news media and local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials and employees. For local background, see Spectra reps unfamiliar with Spectra fines @ LCC 2013-12-09. -jsq

Ms. Grover:

Those of us property owners who are already Spectra Energy “stakeholders” (the company’s term), want Spectra Energy to be the best it can be, consistent with its publicly stated commitment to Stakeholder Engagement, Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability.  

Reference link:  http://www.spectraenergy.com/Sustainability/Economic/Acting-with-Integrity/

To that end, and regarding your activities as a “Director of Stakeholder Outreach” on behalf of Spectra Energy’s proposed Sabal Trail pipeline, property owners in Georgia report that you are asserting the following at public meetings:

•  You assert that property owners at Spectra Energy’s Steckman Ridge compressor facility in Bedford County, PA are “happy” despite ongoing problems there and a consistent lack of response from Spectra Energy to its “stakeholders.”  

FACT:  I speak for more than a dozen families who live next to or near the problematic compressor facility; and your statement is incorrect and misleading.  What facts do you have to support such a disingenuous allegation?  A ring of health, water and operational complaints surround this facility that began operations in 2009.  Based on unofficial record keeping by neighbors, there have been nearly 60 shutdowns, blowdowns and related incidents at the Steckman Ridge compressor station and underground natural gas storage facility between August 2009 and the present.  And there is much more, as you know.

• You assert that uncontrolled releases of methane and other hydrocarbons that happen too frequently at the Steckman Ridge compressor facility are “normal.”  Let’s hope not.  Your assertion is uninformed and misleading.  

FACT:  Recall the March 9-10 incident Continue reading Spectra Energy — Be the Best it Can Be –Mike Benard →

No landowner list for you –Andrea Grover

Florida, Levy County, , , , , ,

After Beth Gordon asked a contractor for a list of affected landowners, she tried asking Andrea Grover of Spectra Energy:


No landowner list for you –Andrea Grover
Video by Beth Gordon for SpectraBusters,
9 December 2013, Levy County, Florida

Beth notes: Continue reading No landowner list for you –Andrea Grover →

Spectra sales and Lowndes County Commission tonight

Georgia, Lowndes County, , , , , , , ,

The Lowndes County Commission promised to ask Spectra Energy questions citizens submitted. They failed. They meet again 5:30 PM tonight at their Regular Session:

327 North Ashley Street, 2nd Floor
Valdosta, GA 31601
229-671-2442

If you want to speak in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard you need to turn in this form before the meeting starts. They usually have copies at the door of the Commission Chambers, but if there’s a big crowd they might run out, so you can print your own beforehand.

There will be protesters out front starting at 4:30 PM.

Here’s a roundup of local blog, TV, and newspaper coverage: Continue reading Spectra sales and Lowndes County Commission tonight →

Open Houses in Florida, and Spectra before the Lowndes County Commission in Georgia

Florida, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Lowndes County, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

There’s a tiny amount of news coverage about the Open Houses required by FERC, all of which are listed on the calendar. The resume Monday evening in Lumpkin, GA and Williston, FL. Before that, Monday morning, the Lowndes County Commission, Georgia, is having Spectra speak at their 8:30 AM Monday 9 December Work Session, to answer questions submitted in advance by the public.

Morgan Watkins wrote for Gainesville.com Wednesday, Public gets chance Thursday to learn more about proposed pipeline,

Sabal Trail Transmission, the company building a 474-mile natural-gas pipeline from Alabama into Florida, has begun a round of open houses for the public and will host one Thursday evening for Alachua and Gilchrist counties.

The open house will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bell High School, located at 930 S. Main St. in Bell, and provide an opportunity for people in the community to learn more about the pipeline that eventually will run through the area.

Or won’t run through, if enough people oppose it. Continue reading Open Houses in Florida, and Spectra before the Lowndes County Commission in Georgia →

AARP against FPL rate hike for gas pipeline

Florida, Health, Safety, , , , , , , , , ,

Today is the last day to file legal protest against the Sabal Trail pipeline at the Florida PSC. AARP is already protesting FPL’s rate hikes for that pipeline all the way to the Supreme Court, for the health, safety, and financial security of AARP members; concerns that are just as valid along the whole path of that proposed pipeline as they are for FPL ratepayers in Florida.

Dr. Richard Swier wrote for watchdogwire.com 3 May 2013, AARP files brief in the Florida Supreme Court challenging the Florida Public Service Commission: Lawsuit involves FPL rate increase,

Attorney Jack L. McRay — representing the AARP — has filed a brief with the Florida Supreme Court asking the Court to remand the recent decision by the Florida Public Service Commission (Commission) to approval a “secret” settlement agreement between Florida Power & Light (FPL) and three other parties related to FPL’s March 2012 petition filed with the Commission to raise electric rates for some 4.1 million customers.

What are these rate increases for? Let’s go to the horse’s mouth, FPL VP of development and external affairs Pam Rauch, the same who filed PF14-2 at FERC for the connecting pipeline Florida Southeast Connection LLC (FSC), wrote in Florida Voices 29 July 2012, FPL Makes Its Case for Rate Increase, Continue reading AARP against FPL rate hike for gas pipeline →