Tag Archives: FPL

Climate Rally and EPA hearings Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta

July 24, 2014Environment, EPA, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, LawAtlanta, Atlanta Climate Rally, Clean Power Plan, Climate, conservation, EPA, FPL, Georgia Power, Law, north Florida, Quality, river, Sabal Trail Transmission, Seth Gunning, Sierra Club, south Georgia, Southern Company, watershed, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

EPA is holding public hearings on its proposed Clean Power Plan next week, 29-30 July 2014, in Atlanta. Maybe you want to mention shifting from coal to “natural” gas (fracked methane) actually may make matters worse here, with proposed pipelines like the hazardous 36-inch monsters Sabal Trail through south Georgia and Renaissance through north Georgia, on environmentally damaging hundred-foot rights of way through our fields, forests, wetlands, and under our rivers. so EPA needs to go further. You can also comment online until 16 October 2014 on Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602. And you can express your opinion outside with Georgia Sierra Club at the Atlanta Climate Rally Tuesday at high noon. And remember, mercury in the Alapaha River probably comes from coal Plant Scherer, near Macon, Georgia.

While that proposed carbon rule may help clean up coal plants like Scherer, it says nothing about methane, which EPA says is Continue reading Climate Rally and EPA hearings Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta →

FL Gov. Scott owned Spectra stock before his appointees backed Sabal Trail pipeline

July 21, 2014Environment, EPA, Ethics, FL PSC, Florida, Law, LNGAccess Midstream Partners, Beth Gordon, DCP Midstream Parterns, Ethics, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, FPL, Gulfstream, Law, LNG, Politics, Port Everglades, Rick Scott, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Rick Scott owned or owned stock in both existing and the proposed new fracked methane pipelines to Florida, according to a reporter, which could explain why when FPL said “frog” Scott’s appointees jumped to approve the Sabal Trail Pipeline. This doesn’t seem right to SpectraBusters president Beth Gordon. Does it seem right to you?

Dan Christensen wrote for the Miami Herald 21 July 2014, Gov. Scott had stake in pipeline firm whose $3 billion venture he and his appointees backed,

“The proposed project will need state regulatory and governmental agencies to understand and support this project,” said the proposal submitted by FPL vice president Sam Forrest.

Gov. Scott understood. In May and June 2013, he signed into law two bills designed to speed up permitting for what came to be known as the Sabal Trail Transmission — a controversial, 474-mile natural gas pipeline that’s to run from Alabama and Georgia to a hub in Central Florida, south of Orlando.

Five months later, Continue reading FL Gov. Scott owned Spectra stock before his appointees backed Sabal Trail pipeline →

Community Bill of Rights against pipelines

July 20, 2014FERC, Law, PennsylvaniaAtlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project, CELDF, Community Bill of Rights, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, corruption, FERC, FPL, Law, Sane Energy Project, Shale Justice Coalition, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Williams Company, zoningJohn S. Quarterman

Local governments can fight pipelines, even though FERC is funded by the companies it regulates and basically acts as a marketing firm for them, which is why FERC has only denied two pipelines. Pass a community bill of rights. And dare Spectra or FPL or Williams or whoever to challenge it in court.

John Trallo wrote for Sane Energy Project 7 July 2014, FERC and the Regulatory Trap

That is not to say that citizens should not get involved with the FERC regulatory process. You should, to get on record. You just have to also act outside the FERC process on the local municipality level to zone it out, or make it too expensive for the operator.

The ideal way to stop pipelines is by establishing a Community Bill of Rights that essentially “zones out” this kind of activity, or restricts it and establishes safety standards and set-backs in such a way that it is no longer economically worthwhile for an operator to build. The concept of a Community Bill of Rights has been championed by Continue reading Community Bill of Rights against pipelines →

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 →

Spectra Pipeline into Southern Swamps –Earth First!

June 30, 2014EPA, FERC, FloridaEarth First!, EPA, FERC, Florida, FPL, Hendry County, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Seminole, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, swampJohn S. Quarterman

Opposition from the south end of the proposed pipeline route, from a group that has been opposing FPL fracked methane power plants since 2008.

Panagioti wrote for Earth First! Newswire 6 April 2014, Spectra Seeks Approval to Send Gas Pipeline into the Southern Swamps,

What would you do if a corporation got permits to build a time bomb on your land?

Rural communities across Alabama, Georgia and Florida are joining the chorus of people asking this all-too-familiar question.

But resistance to proposed fossil fuel pipelines has been growing… almost as frequent as the steady stream of disasters from existing pipelines.

New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, B.C., Ontario…. Each Continue reading Spectra Pipeline into Southern Swamps –Earth First! →

Sabal Trail and FSC want FERC to avoid considering fracking

June 8, 2014Environment, FERC, FL PSC, Fracking, Law, SolarAudubon Florida, Audubon Society, environment, FERC, FL PSC, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, Fracking, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Law, NextEra Energy, Palm Beach Post, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Susan Salisbury, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Of course FPL and Spectra don’t want FERC to look at fracking, but nothing in FERC’s own rules says it can’t, and a recent court case might be a precedent to get it to do so. Maybe Audubon Florida is discovering trying to tinker with pipeline routes is like signing up for the 1885 Berlin Conference that divided Africa by drawing lines on a map. Sierra Club Florida, Georgia, and Alabama already understand the only appropriate route for that fracked methane boondoggle is no route, with new power from the sun.

I’ve added a few links to these quotes from what Susan Salisbury wrote for the Palm Beach Post 5 May 2014, Fracking not an issue with pipeline for FPL’s plants, firms say, Continue reading Sabal Trail and FSC want FERC to avoid considering fracking →

It seems that they just draw lines at random –James Ryder via Sen. Marco Rubio

June 7, 2014Brooks County, Economy, Environment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, Trees, WaterBrooks County, Economy, fair market value, FERC, Florida, FPL, Georgia, James Ryder, John S. Quarterman, Law, Marco Rubio, Morven, SONAT, Southern Natural Gas, Spain Road, SpectraBusters, Susan Waller, Tracey Ryder, Trees, Water, wetlandsJohn S. Quarterman

Florida’s other Senator just intervened with FERC on behalf of a landowner who has been trying to get reasonable solutions out of Spectra Energy since at least December. Sabal Trail is trying to force their unnecessary pipeline through this Brooks County, Georgia property among others that already have a gas pipeline: this one also already has an FPL power line. Why should FPL get to deface anybody’s property for both a power line and a pipeline while destroying wetlands and trees? Why do we think this will be the last pipeline if it is allowed to go in? As the Ryders ask, “If this was your farm, how would you like it divided?” How about not at all?

Filed with FERC 6 June 2014 as Senator Marco Rubio submits comments re the Southeast Market Pipelines Project under PF14-1. Florida Senator Bill Nelson intervened on behalf of Amelia Longley back on 1 November 2013.

Cover letter Continue reading It seems that they just draw lines at random –James Ryder via Sen. Marco Rubio →

Fracked gas can be as bad for the climate as coal –FWW petition to EPA

June 6, 2014Fracking, Hazards, LawFood and Water Watch, FPL, Fracking, Hazards, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Food and Water Watch gets it that coal is only part of the fossil fuel problem:

Under the proposal, power plants, mainly coal-fired plants, would have to reduce their carbon emissions. One way the electricity companies would be allowed to do this is by switching from coal-fired plants to gas-fired plants. The EPA still considers gas a cleaner fuel than coal, because they don’t count the full life of fracked gas. But we know that fracked gas can be as bad for the climate as coal.

Here’s the FWW petition: Continue reading Fracked gas can be as bad for the climate as coal –FWW petition to EPA →

Duke Energy doesn’t need Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline

June 4, 2014Citrus County, Economy, FL PSC, FloridaCitrus County, Duke Energy, Economy, FL PSC, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, FPL, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Even Duke Energy thinks the Sabal Trail pipeline is not necessary.

Pat Faherty wrote 30 May 2014 for the Citrus County Chronicle, Natural-gas plant not tied to pipeline completion (I added the images and links),

Construction of Duke Energy’s $1.5 billion power plant in Citrus County is not dependent on completion of the controversial Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline.

Duke filed a petition Tuesday with the Florida Public Service Commission for an affirmative determination of need for its Citrus County combined-cycle power plant.

That’s the same 27 May 2014 filing that was supposed to show Sabal Trail fueling Duke’s plant, but Continue reading Duke Energy doesn’t need Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline →

Build FPL’s natural gas pipeline or not? –Palm Beach Post

June 2, 2014Economy, Environment, Florida, Fracking, Hazards, LNG, Martin Countycoal, Economy, environment, Eric Silagy, export, Florida, FPL, Fracking, Hazards, indirect, induced, jobs, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Martin County, NextEra Energy, oil, Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Post, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, T. Boone Pickens, windJohn S. Quarterman

FPL’s hometown newspaper never mentions solar or wind in an opinion piece asking whether you think the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline is a good idea. You can comment directly in the newspaper. Maybe you’d like to send your comments to FERC, as well.

Palm Beach Post Opinion Staff wrote yesterday, Should FPL’s natural gas pipeline be built?

NextEra Energy, parent of Florida Power & Light, is contracting with Spectra Energy to run a natural gas pipleine 591 miles through the heart of the state, ending in Martin County.

FPL President Eric Silagy says the company needs the additional pipeline to provide redundancy and added capacity to the state’s existing natural gas pipleines. FPL is now the nation’s largest consumer of natural gas, he says.

It’s curious how FPL’s own projections in its 10-year plan don’t support Continue reading Build FPL’s natural gas pipeline or not? –Palm Beach Post →