Tag Archives: Economy

Sabal Trail citing Stewart County injunction in Brooks County, Georgia

April 22, 2014Brooks County, Economy, Environment, Fracking, Georgia, Law, Stewart CountyBrooks County, Economy, environment, Fracking, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Kitty Maidens, Law, Mavis L. Harper, property rights, Sabal Trail Transmission, SpectraBusters, Stewart County, Travis H. HarperJohn S. Quarterman

Why would a pipeline company from Houston suffer irreparable harm if it couldn’t go onto the land of somebody in Georgia? A judge in one Georgia county bought Sabal Trail’s eminent domain assertions and now Sabal Trail is citing that to try to get a landowner in Brooks County to let it on the property to survey for its fracked methane pipeline. What about private property rights?

The letter dated 12 April 2014 from Sabal Trail includes this part:

A copy of the Order granting Sabal Trail’s request for injunctive relief, entered on February 21, 2014, is enclosed for your review. As you will see, the Order concluded that:

Sabal Trail has the right, incidental to its power of eminent domain, to enter private property to conduct the Survey Activities.
Delays in conducting the Survey Activities will cause Sabal Trail irreparable harm.
The Survey Activities will not cause substantial harm to the defendant landowners, nor will the surveys disserve the public interest.

Accordingly, the Order prohibits those landowners from preventing or interfering Continue reading Sabal Trail citing Stewart County injunction in Brooks County, Georgia →

Spectra fined $18.6 million + $200 million cleanup for PCBs by Pennsylvania in 1991

April 21, 2014Corrosion, Economy, Environment, Fracking, Health, Law, Leak, Pennsylvania, Safety10-K, cancer, contamination, corrosion, Economy, environment, EPA, fine, Fracking, Health, John S. Quarterman, Law, leak, Marcellus Shale, PCB, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, SEC, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Texas Eastern Pipeline, toxicJohn S. Quarterman

That 1989 $15 million fine against Spectra for leaking PCBs at 89 pipeline locations was a record for EPA at that time, but Pennsylvania topped it a few years later.

Russell E. Eshleman Jr. wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer 15 May 1991, Pipeline Firm To Pay $218.6 Million For Pcb Contamination Across Pa.,

Texas Eastern Pipeline Corp. has agreed to pay Pennsylvania $18.6 million in penalties and $200 million in cleanup costs for dumping PCBs at 19 sites across the state, the Casey administration announced yesterday….

Remember, Texas Eastern is part of Spectra Energy now.

Penn. had asked for even more than it got, so it got enough: Continue reading Spectra fined $18.6 million + $200 million cleanup for PCBs by Pennsylvania in 1991 →

Re: AES Ocean Express pipeline from Florida to Bahamas

April 10, 2014Economy, FE, Florida, LNGAES, Bahamas, Broward County, Economy, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, LNG, NextEra Energy, Ocean Express, Port Everglades, Sabal Trail Transmission, SpectraBusters, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Yet another LNG export scheme linked with the so-called Southeast Market Pipelines Project, in addition to at least two more. Why should anybody give up their land for export profit for a few companies somewhere else? An undersea pipeline originally for import to Florida, now being promoted for LNG export because of U.S. surplus methane from fracking, already approved by the U.S. a decade ago, only waiting for approval by the Bahamas, which is being pressured by an international bank to do so. It would run from FPL’s Port Everglades “Clean Energy Center” in Broward County, a location linked since it was announced with FPL’s Florida Southeast Connection, which would get its gas from the Sabal Trail and Transco pipelines, starting with fracking in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Candia Dames wrote for dennisdamesonline.net 23 January 2004, AES Corp. Clears Hurdle For LNG Pipeline, Continue reading Re: AES Ocean Express pipeline from Florida to Bahamas →

Carib-Crowley LNG export from Martin County, FL

April 6, 2014Economy, FE, Florida, LNG, Martin County, Puerto RicoCarib Energy, Crowley Maritime, Economy, export, FE, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, LNG, Martin County, Puerto Rico, Sabal Trail Transmission, SpectraBusters, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Another LNG export authorization at the end of the Southeast Market Pipelines Project (Transco -> Sabal Trail -> Florida Southeast Connection) in Martin County, Florida, in addition to the one already approved. Will FPL, Spectra, Williams, and FERC claim to know nothing about this one, too? They sure didn’t tell us anything about it during the Open Houses or Scoping Meetings.

Joe Fisher wrote for NGI 25 October 2013, Continue reading Carib-Crowley LNG export from Martin County, FL →

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 →

Floridian LNG Export approved last November, before Sabal Trail Open Houses or FERC Scoping Meetings

April 1, 2014Alabama, Colquitt County, Economy, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Law, LNG, Lowndes County, Martin CountyAES, Alabama, Economy, export, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FSC, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Juno Beach, Law, LNG, Lowndes County, Martin County, Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

On 14 November 2013 the U.S. DoE’s Office of Fossil Energy approved LNG export authority for a company located next to the end of the Transco-Sabal Trail-FSC pipeline in Martin County, Florida, right where FPL is already building another pipeline to the sea. All the time since then Spectra and FERC have been saying the Sabal Trail pipeline is not for export. FERC’s whole rationale for federal eminent domain for this pipeline is that Florida needs the power. If the methane is really for export, what excuse is there for federal eminent domain?

The order’s cover page says:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY

ADVANCED ENERGY SOLUTIONS. LLC ) FE DOCKET NO. I3~104-LNG

ORDER GRANTING LONG-TERM MULTI-CONTRACT
AUTHORIZATION TO EXPORT LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
IN ISO CONTAINERS LOADED AT THE
FLORIDIAN FACILITY IN MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA,
AND EXPORTED VIA OCEAN-GOING VESSEL
TO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT NATIONS
IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

DOE/FE ORDER NO. 3360

NOVEMBER 14, 2013

Friday 15 November 2013, the next day after that LNG authorization, Continue reading Floridian LNG Export approved last November, before Sabal Trail Open Houses or FERC Scoping Meetings →

Pipelines, property values, and insurance

March 26, 2014Economy, Environment, LawEconomy, eminent domain, environment, insurance, John S. Quarterman, Law, lawsuits, precedents, property values, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

What happens to your property values or homeowners insurance a pipeline company takes your land to gouge a path for its fracked methane or oil? It affects the property values not just of your land, but of your neighbors’, and yours and their property insurance. It also opens the pipeline company and associated businesses to civil lawsuits. And FERC’s assertion that federal law supersedes state and local laws for eminent domain does nothing to stop such lawsuits; many such lawsuits are winning lately. Not even the federal government is immune from pipeline lawsuits.

Stop the Pipeline has a good article, mostly about land near fracking wells: LOSS OF PROPERTY VALUES, DIFFICULTY GETTING MORTGAGES AND HOME INSURANCE,

“Another illustration is the gentleman who has had 63 acres for sale now for several years. He purchased the property as an investment, and now has three pipelines and an above ground valve. He can not give this property away. As he reaches retirement age his retirement has been stolen from him. This is no different than Enron or any other scandal, only it has been made legal thievery. There are two other pieces of property that have been for sale for several years, one of which is a large parcel of about 70 acres and the other is about 10 acres.”

The insurance industry has been studying this issue for years, and wants to steer clear of it. Continue reading Pipelines, property values, and insurance →

Less cost, more jobs, and better health with sun, wind, and water power for Florida, or a dirty destructive methane pipeline?

March 23, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Georgia, Safety, Solar, WaterAlabama, coal, death spiral, Duke Energy, Economy, Edison Electric Institute, environment, Florida, FPL, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, natural gas, NextEra Energy, nuclear, oil, photovoltaic, PV, rooftop, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, share prices, solar, solar farm, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, stocks, Wall Street Journal, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

How about we recognize every place is the worst place for the water-risking land-taking hazardous methane pipeline, and get on with sun, wind, and water to power Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and all the other states?

According to Stanford University researchers, we can do that, and we can do it 100% by 2050, using technology that’s already available. For Florida, that’s 20% rooftop solar PV (half residential and half commercial and governmental), 47.9% solar PV plants, 10% concentrating solar plants, 5% onshore wind, 15% offshore wind, 1% each wave and tide, 0.1% hydroelectric. So that’s 77.9% sun, 20% wind, 1% wave, 1% tide, and 0.1% hydro.

Requiring 0% nuclear, 0% coal, and 0% natural gas. That’s right, Florida doesn’t need methane to shut down coal and nukes. All the Sunshine State needs is sun, wind, and water.

With 355,500 construction jobs and 149,000 operation jobs, $20.1 billion or 3% of Florida’s GDP saved in avoided health costs, 2,210 Floridans not dead from air pollution.

Oh, and 42.9% less energy used over all, plus energy costs to customers cut more than in half.

Who are you going to believe? Researchers at Stanford who have no financial stake in the outcome? Or pipeline companies and utility companies that stand to profit from taking Continue reading Less cost, more jobs, and better health with sun, wind, and water power for Florida, or a dirty destructive methane pipeline? →

Sabal Trail at worst spot –expert in Gainesville Sun

March 23, 2014Economy, Environment, Explosion, FERC, Florida, Law, Martin County, Safety, Suwannee County, Waterdrinking water, Economy, environment, explosion, FERC, Florida, Floridan Aquifer, FPL, Gainesville, John S. Quarterman, Law, limestone, Martin County, NextEra Energy, property rights, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Santa Fe River, sinkhole, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, spring, Suwannee County, Water, wells, wetlandsJohn S. Quarterman

Florida newspaper reporters are not buying the pipeline company’s spin. Instead they write about the fragile limestone that holds our drinking water in the Floridan Aquifer, damage to which can easily turn a spring into a sinkhole. Wednesday, the Orlando Sentinel about Spectra’s safety record, and today Morgan Watkins wrote for the Gainesville Sun, Expert: Pipeline would cross Santa Fe at the worst spot,

Standing along the bank of the Santa Fe River near the riverside house in southern Suwannee County his family has owned since 1967, Kevin Brown pointed to the spot where a natural gas pipeline is expected to cross underneath the ground.

But Brown’s brother David, a geologist, and other concerned folks hope to persuade the company leading the project to select what they consider a safer crossing point….

The river and the surrounding area is pockmarked with springs and sinkholes. Exposed limestone — a crumbly, fractured rock — Continue reading Sabal Trail at worst spot –expert in Gainesville Sun →

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 →