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US Energy Bill
Will FERC force LNG terminals on unwilling communities? (transcript)
Kéllia Ramares, Global Public Media’
This report by Global Public Media’s Kéllia Ramares features interviews with: * Jim Thompson – Natural Gas Industry Analyst with the Energy Information Administration.
* Dale Allen Pfeiffer – Author of the book, “The End of the Oil Age”
* David Hughes – research geologist Geological Survey of Canada
* Elena Ducharme – former chair Vallejo for Community Planned Renewal
* Rep. David Sullivan- member Massachusetts House of Representatives
* Tim Riley-Southern California trial attorney and anti-LNG activist.
* Gordon Shearer-CEO Weaver’s Cove Energy
* Tamara Young-Allen-Spokesperson;FERC
* Chris Duval-Founding Member, Fairplay for Harpswell (Maine)
* Peter Huhtala-Member, Columbia River Vision (Astoria, Ore.)
* Plus tape of George W. Bush, and Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine
(24 July 2005)
On The Energy Bill
Michael Bagley, Global Public Media
House and Senate tax writers released details today of $14.5 billion in energy tax incentives, clearing the way for congressional passage of the energy conference report by the end of the week
(28 July 2005)
The porking of the energy bill
Michael Scherer, Salon
How $1.5 billion was slipped into legislation in the dark of night for an energy industry outfit in — where else — Tom DeLay’s hometown.
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WASHINGTON — In an 11th-hour deal, House and Senate leaders inserted language into the energy bill that could funnel as much as $1.5 billion through a Sugarland, Texas, nonprofit to fund research and development for “ultra-deepwater and unconventional” natural gas drilling. The deal has been in the works for years — versions of the proposal passed the House in several bills that did not become law — but rank-and-file Democrats in the House have cried foul over the process.
“Members of the conference committee had no opportunity to consider or reject this measure,” complained Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in a letter to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on Wednesday. That is because the ultra-deep program appeared in the final version of the energy bill only after the last meeting for amendments had been gaveled to a close.
House Democrats knew something was afoot on Monday night.
(29 July 2005)
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Big Brother at work
Michael T. Klare, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (guest columnist)
Congress is about to enact a new energy bill that would severely limit the power of coastal states and municipalities to veto the construction of massive, and potentially dangerous, liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals in their harbors. If it becomes law, federal authorities would gain the power to overrule states and municipalities in choosing locations for these terminals.
These facilities, costing up to $1 billion each, would be built at U.S. ports, which would receive giant LNG cargo ships and convert the refrigerated liquid back into gas for delivery across the country.
Because such facilities could pose a risk of explosion and would represent a tempting target to terrorists, many coastal communities are understandably reluctant to allow their construction in local waters. If this measure is adopted, however, states and municipalities would lose their say over the placement of such facilities.
This is a step we dare not take as a nation.
(29 July 2005)
