Tag Archives: Sabal Trail Transmission

NextEra invests in solar while its subsidiary FPL promotes fracked methane Sabal Trail

January 7, 2016Florida, Fracking, Okeechobee County, Oklahoma, SolarFlorida, Florida Power and Light, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, Fracking, Indian River County, John S. Quarterman, NEP, NextEra Energy, NextEra Energy Partners, NextEra Energy Resources, Okeechobee County, Oklahoma, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Does it seem like FPL is the sucker in these fossil fuel deals by its parent NextEra? While the people of Florida fall far behind even New Jersey and Massachusetts in deploying solar power in the much more populous Sunshine State? You can call your local, state, and federal officials and ask them to stop the fossil fuel boondoggles and get on with solar power.

As we’ve seen, NextEra is unloading its Oklahoma fracking operation onto FPL. “Positive” effects of fracking in Oklahoma have included earthquakes.

Meanwhile, NextEra subsidiary Nextera Energy Resources has solar operations in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and even New Jersey, but not in Florida. NextEra’s Yieldco NextEra Energy Partners (NEP) is even Continue reading NextEra invests in solar while its subsidiary FPL promotes fracked methane Sabal Trail →

Marion County Sinkhole on Sabal Trail path

December 25, 2015FERC, Florida, Marion County, Safety, WaterAudubon Florida, burrowing owl, Florida, gopher tortoise, Janet Barrow, Marion County, Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs, River Springs, Rock Springs, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, sand hill crane, scrub jay, sinkhole, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Withlacoochee RiverJohn S. Quarterman

Janet Barrow says:

Here is a photo of a sinkhole that is 1230 feet from the proposed pipeline at MP 380. It dropped overnight—40′ wide and deep—several years ago.

This is the biggest recent one on the ranch where I live, but there are others. MP 377 – MP 386 go through the ranch where I live. We don’t own it. My husband is manager. This is in Marion County. 29.094506, -82.405163.

The thing is, I know a lot about this land, and very few others know anything about it. It is Continue reading Marion County Sinkhole on Sabal Trail path →

The fracked methane bridge isn’t short enough or safe enough: go renewable energy –Lori McCraney in Suwannee Democrat

December 24, 2015Florida, Hazards, LNG, Safety, Suwannee Countycarbon dioxide, CH4, Climate Change, CO2, EPA, Florida, greenhouse gas, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, LNG, methane, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee CountyJohn S. Quarterman

A local citizen asks her County Commission to represent its citizens, not a pipeline company from somewhere else, in an op-ed in the Suwannee County newspaper today.

Lori McCraney, Suwannee Democrat, 24 December 2015, Opinion: Suwannee County commissioners lack resolve against Sabal Trail,

Proponents have touted the safety of the Sabal Trail pipeline. This belies the fact that Spectra Energy, the parent of Sabal Trail, has one of the worst safety records in the industry. See www.spectrabusters.org/hazards/spectra-safety-violations for links to numerous articles regarding Spectra’s safety record.

According to Alan Lambeth, director of engineering design for Spectra Energy, Sabal Trail will use the thinnest pipe allowed Continue reading The fracked methane bridge isn’t short enough or safe enough: go renewable energy –Lori McCraney in Suwannee Democrat →

FERC rubberstamped FEIS for Sabal Trail today 2015-12-18

December 18, 2015FERC, Law, WaterAir, Duke Energy, FEIS, FERC, Final Environmental Impact Statement, FPL, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Just before Christmas, when the fewest people will be paying attention, FERC just issued for Sabal Trail, FSC, and Transco Hillabee the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), aiming at March to rubberstamp a permit. You can still ecomment to FERC, or to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or to GA-EPD or ask your local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials to oppose this unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous boondoggle.

Curious how EPA changed its tune just before the FEIS.

Accession Number: 20151218-4001, “Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume I re the Southeast Market Pipelines Project under CP14-554 et al. Dated December”, with an announcement, Continue reading FERC rubberstamped FEIS for Sabal Trail today 2015-12-18 →

SMP Schedule

December 12, 2015FERCDEIS, Environmental Impact Statement, FEIS, FERC, Florida Southeast Connection, John S. Quarterman, permit, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Transco Hillabee Expansion ProjectJohn S. Quarterman

Three weeks after the date on the letter, I got this schedule notice from FERC, saying they plan to issue the final Environmental Impact Statement 18 December 2015, and they plan to rubberstamp the permit 17 March 2016, for Sabal Trail, Transco, and Florida Southeast Connection. So the opposition has made FERC slip the schedule a month.

This letter does mention a move for the Albany Compressor Station, but it looks to me like it’s referring to the previous site relocation.

-jsq

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
CP14-554-000
CP15-16-000
CP15-17-000
Florida Southeast Connection, LLC
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC
Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC
NOTICE OF REVISED SCHEDULE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE
SOUTHEAST MARKET PIPELINES PROJECT
(November 19, 2015) Continue reading SMP Schedule →

What companies are in Sabal Trail and related?

December 9, 2015Duval County, FERC, LNG, Suwannee Countyboondoggle, conflict of interest, corruption, Duke Energy, Duval County, FERC, Florida, Florida Power and Light, FPL, Gulfstream, Jacksonville, John S. Quarterman, Kinder Morgan, KMI, LNG, Rick Scott, Sabal Trail Management, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Transco, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Who is Sabal Trail, anyway? Counties resolving against Sabal Trail might want to make their resolutions against any new pipeline, since there’s already another one proposed for Suwannee County (see below).

Sabal Trail owned and operated by….

Reviving a pipeline idea that failed in the Florida PSC in 2009, FPL put out a request for proposals that was won by Sabal Trail in 2013. Note the original proposed Sabal Trail path in the map below did not go through Georgia; why that changed is a long story apparently only known in full to Spectra, FPL, and Williams Co.

Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC was formed by Continue reading What companies are in Sabal Trail and related? →

Albany against Sabal Sinkhole Trail at GA-EPD air quality hearing

November 20, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Georgia, WaterAir, compressor, Dougherty County, Enon Winkler, environmental justice, Eric Cornwell, Flint River, Flint Riverkeeper, GA EPD, Georgia, Gordon Rogers, Greenlaw, Hank Johnson David Scott, John Lewis, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sanford Bishop, sinkhole, Sinkhole Trail, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Steve Caley, Water, Winfred DukesJohn S. Quarterman

The people don’t want Sabal Trail, nor its compressor station. Nobody but Spectra’s paid person Andrea Grover spoke for Sabal Trail, and she only did it by email later, not at the hearing. Pretty good coverage in three local stories.

Carlton Fletcher, Albany Herald, 7 November 2015, Sabal Trail opponents voice concerns to EPD: State officials hold air-quality permitting hearing at Albany Tech,

“There’s a great deal of frustration here because the preponderance of evidence shows that this is a bad project,” [Gordon] Rogers said. “And while we Continue reading Albany against Sabal Sinkhole Trail at GA-EPD air quality hearing →

Sierra Club opposes new natural gas electric generating units: good news against Sabal Trail

November 18, 2015Climate Change, Duval County, Florida, LNG, Martin CountyClimate Change, combined cycle, Duke Energy, Duval County, electric, FE, FEC, Florida, Florida East Coast Railway, Florida Southeast Connection, Fortress Investment Group, fossil fuels, FPL, FSC, generating, Jacksonville, Jaxport, John S. Quarterman, Kinder Morgan, KMI, LNG, Martin County, Office of Fossil Energy, peaking, Riviera Beach, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, TECOJohn S. Quarterman

The excuse for Spectra’s Sabal Trail pipeline is new natural gas electric generating units in Florida. FPL calls this “modernizing“, which is an odd word for using 20th century fossil fuels when 21st century solar power, conservation, and efficiency is ready right now for the Sunshine State. Adding to their opposition to LNG export, the Sierra Club Board of Directors has adopted this new policy:

“Natural Gas: The Sierra Club opposes new electric generating units powered by natural gas, including peaking and combined cycle units. Consistent with the Board’s goal of eliminating all fossil fuels from the electric sector no later than 2030, it is critical that the US avoid further high-capital investments in new natural gas plants and related infrastructure.”

This is in Sierra Club’s Continue reading Sierra Club opposes new natural gas electric generating units: good news against Sabal Trail →

Confirmed: Resolution against Sabal Trail today at Suwannee County Commission 2015-11-17

November 17, 2015Compressor, Florida, Suwannee County, WaterBeth Gordon, compressor, Debra Johnson, Falmouth Cathedral Cave System, Florida, Hildreth, John S. Quarterman, Outstanding Florida Water, Sabal Trail Transmission, Santa Fe River, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, WWALSJohn S. Quarterman

Suwannee County residents please come speak, and everyone else please come be seen (you can speak, too). Facebook event. Come defend property rights, water, and air in Suwannee County from the Sabal Trail invader, and that helps defend where you are, too.

When: 6PM Tuesday 17 November 2015

Where: 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida, 32064

From the draft minutes of the Nov. 3rd meeting Continue reading Confirmed: Resolution against Sabal Trail today at Suwannee County Commission 2015-11-17 →

U.S. rejects Keystone XL: next let’s stop Sabal Trail!

November 6, 2015Economy, LNG, PoliticsBarack Obama, Bill McKibben, Canada, Climate Change, Economy, Free Trade, John Kerry, John S. Quarterman, Justin Trudeau, Keystone XL, Kinder Morgan, LNG, Palmetto Pipeline, Paris, petroleum products, Politics, President, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Sinkhole Trail, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, State Department, Tar Sands, TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership, TransCanada, United StatesJohn S. Quarterman

Thanks to Bill McKibben and everyone else who made that pipeline an international cause. Now let’s stop Spectra’s Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail and keep Kinder Morgan’s Palmetto pipeline denied. And let’s stop the Trans-Pacific Parternership (TPP) before it can produce more “free trade” countries for LNG export.

Coral Davenport, New York Times, 6 November 2015, Obama Rejects Construction of Keystone XL Oil Pipeline,

President Obama’s denial of the proposed 1,179-mile pipeline, which would have carried 800,000 barrels a day of carbon-heavy petroleum from the Canadian oil sands to the Gulf Coast, comes as he is seeking to build an ambitious legacy on climate change.

“The pipeline would not make a meaningful longterm contribution to our economy,” Mr. Obama said in remarks from the White House.

The move was made ahead of Continue reading U.S. rejects Keystone XL: next let’s stop Sabal Trail! →