Monthly Archives: July 2014

Long Island natural gas plant found not needed

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

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

Gov. Scott tied to Everglades drilling: driller kicked out of Florida

Rick Scott’s financial ties to fracking got that driller kicked out of Florida. Now that Gov. Scott has been tied to the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, maybe Florida will kick Spectra out of the state, too.

Steve Bousquet wrote for the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau 13 June 2014, Scott’s stake in oil company tied to Collier drilling riles environmentalists, Continue reading Gov. Scott tied to Everglades drilling: driller kicked out of Florida

FL Gov. Scott scandal in Lake City Reporter

“Putting a pipeline anywhere near in a sinkhole-laden environment could be horrific if something went wrong,” said Our Santa Fe River President Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, “Our organization is still very much opposed.”

Governor has financial stake in natural gas pipeline, by Megan Reeves, Lake City Reporter, 27 July 2014., also mentioning Greenlaw and EPA, and further quoting Malwitz-Jipson.

Here’s an op-ed by Our Santa Fe River.

Does the state really need a new pipeline to supply more power plants? –Ocala StarBanner

A newspaper editorial dared to ask the most basic question.
Editorial: A power play, Ocala StarBanner, Saturday 26 July 2014, http://www.ocala.com/article/20140726/OPINION01/140729777?p=all&tc=pgall

“But the overarching question is whether the state’s big utilities really need more power plants.

“If not, the pipeline isn’t worth the risk — especially when conservation and alternative energy sources could save customers and the environment.”

Sabal Trail admits environmental destruction to Valdosta newspaper

Spectra’s Andrea Grover admitted trees don’t grow back fast, a “need to draw that line in the sand” and “we’re now moving forward”. This is the kind of “working with the landowners and the communities” that the Valdosta Daily Times found when it went to the local Sabal Trail office. STT plans to file with FERC at the end of October. But Spectra’s Andrea Grover admitted they need complete survey data, and Sabal Trail admitted they have no Georgia customers, which means they have no Georgia eminent domain, so every landowner who refuses is indeed putting a crimp into Spectra’s fracked methane pipeline.

Matthew Woody wrote for the VDT 27 July 2014, Sabal Trail explains its position, Continue reading Sabal Trail admits environmental destruction to Valdosta newspaper

Greenlaw air quality objections in Gainesville, FL newspaper

Newspaper in a Florida city twice the size of Albany, GA links Greenlaw’s Albany compressor station objections to a compressor station in Dunnellon, FL, plus Sabal Trail’s response and Greenlaw’s response to that.

Bill Thompson wrote for Daily Commercial 24 July 2014, Air-quality questions raised about Sabal Trail gas pipeline,

A compression station also is planned near Dunnellon as part of the interstate Florida line. Three other stations are planned in Florida, but none in Lake or Sumter counties.

Yes, but there’s one aimed at Suwannee County, FL, for example. Continue reading Greenlaw air quality objections in Gainesville, FL newspaper

FL State Rep. Linda Stewart joins Sabal Trail opposition

Amy Green wrote for wmfe.org, 90.7 news Orlando, 25 July 2014, New Opposition to Sabal Trail pipeline,

large_32777.jpg State Rep. Linda Stewart is joining environmentalists in opposition of the Sabal Trail pipeline. The 474-mile natural gas pipeline would span Alabama, Georgia and Florida, including Central Florida. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.

Stewart, a Democrat, says Florida should focus instead on solar energy.

“Anything can happen, any kind of leak, any kind of interference with the distribution of it could cause some very negative effects no matter where this may occur.”