Commissioner Tony Clark’s LNG export comments are the
pullquote in the
U.S. House Committee’s own writeup.
His testimony says a surplus of fracked gas in the U.S.
is driving both LNG exports and new pipelines.
Not customer demand in Florida:
producer demand for new markets.
Do we want a pipeline through our lands to profit fat cats in Houston?
Given Clark’s background as
a public service commissioner in
fracking North Dakota, he seems likely to be a fracking, LNG export,
and gas pipeline advocate.
New FERC Acting Chair
Cheryl A. LaFleur’s testimony set the stage for Clark’s remarks:
Increased availability of domestic natural gas and its growing use
in power generation also has implications for natural gas
infrastructure, which Commissioner Clark will touch on in his
testimony.
FERC Commissioner
Phillip D. Moeller’s testimony
included this Orwellian remark:
Over the last 22 months, the Commission has undertaken significant
efforts to address the growing convergence of the natural gas and
electric industries through seven technical conferences and regular
updates. In November the Commission issued its final rule relating
to communications regarding sensitive system information in an
effort to open communication channels between interstate natural gas
pipelines and operators of wholesale electric markets.
So we should pave the way for natural gas plowing through our property
by making communications about it federally sensitive?
Written Testimony of Commissioner Tony Clark
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Before the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
United States House of Representatives
Hearing on
Evaluating the Role of FERC in a Changing Energy Landscape
December 5, 2013
The large amount of natural gas in the U.S. is also creating an
impetus for something that was nearly unimaginable ten or fifteen
year ago, LNG export, as opposed to import terminals. This is an
area of significant workload increase for the Commission.
Presently, the FERC has thirteen proposed LNG export terminals and
three LNG import terminals in some phase of the permitting process.
As you would expect, the reviews that entail safely siting large
multi-billion dollar energy projects such as these are extensive.
Note he doesn’t say anything about deciding whether
to site LNG export terminals, just doing it “safely”.
So this FERC Commissioner seems in favor of what
another House subcommittee is also pushing:
LNG exports.
But what about pipelines?
Those are also driven by fossil fuel company fracked shale gas
gluts, not by customer demand:
As you might expect, the shale revolution in both liquids and
natural gas production is having a tremendous impact on the work of
the FERC. We see this Continue reading FERC Commissioner pushes LNG exports to House Subcommitee →
the proposed corridors since we are already encumbered with the SONAT pipeline that run through the middle of our property. We were told that we should sign the consent because they would use eminent domain to access our property against our will if need be. In a public meeting we were told they were putting in a 24″ line that would provide gas to mid and south Florida. We have later learned that they are intending to put in a 36″ line that would not serve Florida, but would provide for exports from Florida. Sabal Trail has not been providing accurate, or clear information to the public regarding these pipeline endeavors. When we asked about alternate corridors, we were told they would not consider the alternate corridor that was originally proposed due to the fact that there were many people impacted.
Seriously, Brooks County may be the home to many a farmer and lower income folks, but I assure they are people and don’t deserve to be exploited for the potential gains in revenue and exportation of our limited natural resources. Continue reading Farmer and lower income folks are people –James & Tracy Ryder to FERC
