Tag Archives: Economy

Jefferson County, FL stopped Nestle; counties can stop Sabal Trail

August 20, 2014Economy, Environment, Florida, Jefferson County, Law, Waterbottled water, Economy, ecosystem, environment, Florida, Jefferson County, Nestle, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, springs, Wacissa, Wacissa River, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

A foreign company wanting to take local resources and not even provide any local jobs, only in “preliminary stages”: sound familiar? Swiss company Nestlé used the same playbook to try to grab water from the Wacissa River that Houston company Spectra Energy is trying to gouge its hundred-foot right of way for its yard-wide fracked methane pipeline through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Wacissa and Jefferson County, Florida fought back and won. Counties can do the same to stop that pipeline.

Brett Adler wrote for the Florida Independent 2 December 2010, Nestle draws fire for plans to pump more water from North Florida springs,

Citizens in North Florida are gearing up for what many foresee as a drawn-out battle with Nestle Waters North America, the country’s largest water bottler, which recently completed test wells Continue reading Jefferson County, FL stopped Nestle; counties can stop Sabal Trail →

OSFR v. FPL: head to head in the Gainesville Sun

August 18, 2014Economy, FE, FERC, Fracking, Hazards, LNG, SolarEconomy, FE, FERC, FPL, Fracking, Gainesville Sun, Georgia Power, Hazards, Jim Tatum, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, OSFR, Our Santa Fe River, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Evidently Spectra’s Andrea Grover was too obviously failing to convince people to stop worrying and love the Sabal Trail pipeline, because FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy has taken up the mighty megaphone of methane talking points. And the Gainesville Sun ran him on the same page as Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Jim Tatum of Our Santa Fe River, today, 18 August 2014. Here are the links and a few excerpts. Read ’em for yourselves!

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Jim Tatum, Pipeline poses multiple problems,

Again, we must point out that Florida Power & Light just recently estimated that in 10 years the demand for power will increase approximately 13 percent, but the Sabal Trail’s new pipeline would have an increase of 33 percent delivery capability. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a report with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission saying that the recently completed (2011) Southeast Supply Header System was designed as an “alternative natural-gas source during hurricane-related disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico.”

That’s actually an underestimate Continue reading OSFR v. FPL: head to head in the Gainesville Sun →

Williams Atlantic Sunrise to feed fracked methane to Sabal Trail: Videos of Scoping Meetings

August 18, 2014Economy, FERC, Fracking, Law, LNG, PennsylvaniaAtlantic Sunrise, Economy, FERC, FPL, Fracking, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Law, methane, NextEra Energy, Pennsylvania, PF14-6, PF14-8, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

FERC’s scoping meetings seem just as much a farce at the other end of Williams’ Transco pipeline from the Hillabee Expansion (PF14-6) that would feed Spectra’s Sabal Trail (PF14-1), Williams is pushing its Atlantic Sunrise Project (PF14-8) to suck up more Marcellus Shale fracked methane from Pennsylvania and ship it down here to Alabama, Georgia, and Florida and out through LNG export. Activists up there videoed several Pennsylvania Scoping Meetings, so you can see the show for yourself.

Don’t believe me that Atlantic Sunrise is to feed Sabal Trail; believe Housley Carr in Oil & Gas Financial Journal 17 january 1014, MIAMI 2017 – MARCELLUS GAS HEADING TO FLORIDA, Continue reading Williams Atlantic Sunrise to feed fracked methane to Sabal Trail: Videos of Scoping Meetings →

Dougherty County fighting Sabal Trail pipeline

August 13, 2014Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Explosion, Georgia, Hazards, Leakcompressor, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, Economy, explosion, Georgia, Gloria Gaines, Hazards, John Hayes, John S. Quarterman, leak, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

At that South Dougherty League meeting yesterday, Gloria Gaines summed up Sabal Trail’s proposed compressor station near Albany, GA: “This proposal should vehemently be challenged; it should be vehemently opposed.”

Aaryn Valenzuela reported for WALB TV yesterday, Proposed Sabal Trail pipeline and compressor station raises concerns, Continue reading Dougherty County fighting Sabal Trail pipeline →

Timeline: Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline has no permit yet

August 12, 2014Alabama, Compressor, Economy, Environment, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hazard, Hazards, Kentucky, Law, LNG, New YorkAlabama, Economy, EIS, environment, Environmental Impact Statment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, FSC, Georgia, Hazards, Hillabee Expansion Project, intervenor, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG export, permit, process, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, timeline, Transco, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

Spectra, FPL, and Williams have not even formally filed with FERC for pipeline permits yet, and that process usually takes about a year. Permitting confusion benefits Spectra about its Sabal Trail Transmission 36-inch hundred-foot-right-of-way fracked methane pipeline, because people don’t know what they can do. You can file ecomments right now, and show up and protest. As soon as the pipeline company files for the formal permit process, you can file as an intervenor, which gives you legal rights to be heard, file legal briefs, and to appeal. Plus many state and local permits also have to be filed, and people can participate in those processes. Even if there ever is a FERC permit, a landowner who makes the pipeline company actually go through the eminent domain process will very likely get a better deal. If enough landowners say Come and Take It, the whole thing may become uneconomical for Spectra, as for Williams Company when it cancelled the Bluegrass Pipeline in Kentucky.

FERC’s Pre-Filing Process

Spectra and Williams and FPL are currently in the pre-filing process with FERC, Continue reading Timeline: Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline has no permit yet →

Long Island natural gas plant found not needed

July 31, 2014Economy, FERC, FL PSC, New YorkCaithness II, Economy, FERC, FL PSC, FPL, John S. Quarterman, New York, PSEG, Sabal Trail Transmission, Southeast Market, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

The same calculations would find FPL’s “Southeast Market” pipeline not needed, including Spectra’s Sabal Trail pipeline.

Mark Harrington wrote for NewsDay 31 July 2014, PSEG review finds Caithness II not needed,

PSEG Long Island has found that the proposed Caithness II power plant in Yaphank “will not be needed” because the Island has enough capacity to meet state requirements for the next five years, according to Continue reading Long Island natural gas plant found not needed →

Another newspaper against Sabal Trail: The Gainesville Sun

July 30, 2014Alachua County, Economy, Environment, FERC, Florida, Hazards, Leak, WaterAir, Alachua County, aquifer, corruption, Economy, environment, FERC, Florida, FPL, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, leak, pollution, Rick Scott, rivers, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, springs, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

A newspaper in Gainesville, with more than twice the population of Ocala, picked up the same newspaper editorial against the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, reiterating that unless serious risks can be addressed, the pipeline isn’t worth it, and besides, it’s not clear Florida even needs the power other than to profit big utilities (and pipeline companies, and apparently Florida Governor Rick Scott). Hm, marching northwards, Ocala, Gainesville, next Lake City, then how about Valdosta, Moultrie, and Albany? Newspapers and TV stations in those places have covered the pipeline. Time for their editorial boards to do what just happened in Ocala and Gainesville.

30 July 2014, Editorial: A pipeline’s purpose, Continue reading Another newspaper against Sabal Trail: The Gainesville Sun →

Williams Co’s WEP pipeline anchor customer is Oregon LNG for export

July 26, 2014Economy, Fracking, LNG, OregonColumbia Riverkeeper, Coos Bay, Dan Seres, Economy, Forrest English, Fracking, John S. Quarterman, Jordan Cove, LNG, Oregon, Oregon LNG, Plymouth LNG, Rogue Riverkeeper, SpectraBusters, Washington Expanstion Project, WEP, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Jordan Cove and Oregon LNG, plus Plymouth LNG that blew up in March: Spectra and Williams are running 36-inch pipelines through the Pacific Northwest to LNG export terminals. Is it coincidence that their 36-inch Transco and Sabal Trail pipelines through the southeast go right to LNG export operations? Columbia and Rogue Riverkeepers remind us states have water and air permitting authority for pipelines, and don’t forget local governments have zoning authority, plus landowners can hold out for much better offers.

From Spectra’s Westcoast Pipeline through the fields of the countersuing Chilliwack, BC farmers, and Williams’ Washington Expanstion Project down I-5 past Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia, turn right at Woodland, Oregon, because: Continue reading Williams Co’s WEP pipeline anchor customer is Oregon LNG for export →

Duke Energy doesn’t care whether Sabal Trail pipeline is ever built

July 16, 2014Citrus County, Economy, FL PSC, Florida, Marion Countyboondoggle, Citrus County, Duke Energy, Economy, FGT, FL PSC, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, FPL, GNGS, Greenlaw, Gulfstream, Gulfstream Natural Gas System, John S. Quarterman, Marion County, Politics, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Raining on Spectra’s pipeline parade, Duke Energy’s Citrus County power plant open house once again emphasized Duke doesn’t care if Spectra and FPL’s fracked methane pipeline is ever built. And it’s not just because of Duke’s power plant that natural gas prices may go up soon: Sabal Trail feeding methane to already-authorized LNG export operations in Florida would also push prices up. So why build that useless Sabal Trail boondoggle? Why build that Duke gas plant, for that matter; why not go straight to solar power in the Sunshine State?

Fred Hiers wrote for Ocala.com 14 July 2014, Utility will build plant with or without new pipeline, Continue reading Duke Energy doesn’t care whether Sabal Trail pipeline is ever built →

The evitability of Andrea Grover’s fracked methane pipeline

July 14, 2014Colquitt County, Economy, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Law, LNG, Orange County, Solar, Suwannee CountyAndrea Grover, Colquitt County, Economy, eminent domain, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Landowner, Law, LNG, open-access, Orange County, permits, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, taxes, trespassJohn S. Quarterman

If they can’t even survey for it, they can’t build it, which may be why Andrea Grover just chanted desperately in three newspapers “the Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline is moving forward.” Nevermind almost everyone who has spoken up about it is against it. She didn’t say anything about taking your land for for profit for her company in Houston and for LNG export that would raise U.S. natural gas prices. But one thing she did say is why that can happen with no further permits if this pipeline should go forward.

Almost everybody opposed the pipeline at the “more than 50 open houses and public meetings” Ms. Grover bragged about in the Orlando Sentinel, in the Suwannee Democrat, and in the Moultrie Observer. She didn’t mention that opposition, but you can see it for yourself in these Continue reading The evitability of Andrea Grover’s fracked methane pipeline →