Groups gather to buck LNG
Several environmental and residents' groups have formed a coalition to oppose a liquefied natural gas facility being proposed by Calpine Corp.
The new Humboldt Bay Coalition Against LNG wants an independent study of the project to be performed so local officials can maintain control over the proposal. The coalition cites a long list of concerns, including health, safety, economics, recreation and the environment which the proposal could affect.
Calpine wants to build a terminal to receive LNG from huge tankers, which would offload the supercooled gas into huge tanks on the Samoa Peninsula. The gas would be stored, then piped to the Central Valley. A power plant would be part of the facility.
Ruth Jameson of the Eureka Homeowners Committee -- which represents about 30 residents -- said the threat of terrorism on such a facility is very real.
"We can't underestimate them," Jameson said.
Mike Buettner of LNG Watch said the Calpine project needs to be held to the highest standard. He said the public should not only have a chance to review what's being offered by Calpine, but by what other outside experts have found in regard to LNG.
"Because the terminal is such a major project ... it is important that this study be truly independent," Buettner said.
All told, the 13-member coalition has thousands of members, and includes several environmental groups, the California Native Plant Society's North Coast Chapter, the Seventh Generation Fund, and the Fairhaven Residents Association, which spokesman Troy Nicolini said represents about half of the peninsula community's 250 residents