WiLDCOAST Holds Protest For LNG Plant Awareness

WiLDCOAST Holds Protest For LNG Plant Awareness

by Nina McDonald

http://www.eaglenewsca.com/articles/2005/04/21/news/news02.txt

WiLDCOAST organized a gathering at Pier Park protesting the scheduled building of a liquid natural gas plant just north of Ensenada on April 9.
Surfers, engineers, environmentalists and concerned citizens handed out information and opinions at the event, which was followed by a paddle-out by surfers.

According to WiLDCOAST, the proposed $600-million Shell/Sempra Costa Azul LNG plant will devastate lobster, tuna and shellfish populations and will also destroy a world-class wave known as "Harry's." Until recently, the location of the wave has remained a virtual secret to all but a handful of dedicated surfers.
Serge Dedina, WiLDCOAST founder states, "The big issue here is really that the state of California and the federal government is basically planning to industrialize the coast of California and the Baja peninsula without any public input. There are currently plans in the works to have at least five LNG plants off the US and Mexican coasts. Imperial Beach is being faced with a Texaco/Chevron LNG plant right off our coast, just south of the border on the Coronado Islands. We believe it's already been approved. The public has had absolutely no say in any of this."

Engineer Bill Powers, chairman for the Border Power Plant Working Group (an advocate group for the development of environmentally sustainable energy facilities in the US-Mexico border region), commented that there have been no evidentiary hearings for any of these plants. He also hinted that big corporations, yielding tremendous clout, are the power behind the government's approval of these power plants. "Strategic planning is completely foreign to this process. Are we going to publicly talk about these plants?" he said.

According to WiLDCOAST documents, Sempra spent over $800,000 lobbying the California Public Utilities Commission in 2004 right before the CPUC gave a favorable ruling for the Baja project. WiLDCOAST also reports that the coalition "Ratepayers of Affordable Clean Energy" has asked that the CPUC hold open, evidentiary hearings to determine the need for LNG plants before the state agrees to build them. CPUC has denied all requests for public hearings.
Another issue is that Sempra is attempting to pass all financial costs associated with the Costa Azul LNG facility onto California gas utility ratepayers if the CPUC decision to go forward with the plant stands.

For avid surfer and protestor Jason Lenhard the question is, "Can't they pick another location? Surfing is my life and there are so few unspoiled breaks left anymore. It's just beautiful down there [at Harry's]. The wave there reminds me of Waimea (Hawaii). It's a right hand break. It would be destroyed by the jetty they are planning to build next to the plant." Lenhard, an electrician from North County, is also concerned about the loss of a pristine ocean environment. "I surf off of Carlsbad all the time and there is an energy plant up there that has changed the temperature of the water so much that they are finding bacteria that's normally indigenous to Hawaii. Last summer I cut myself on some barnacles and developed a nasty staph infection. The doctor tested me and could hardly believe I hadn't been surfing in Hawaii," he said.

Aaron Quintanar, WiLDCOAST wildlands conservation program manager, is concerned that energy companies are using misleading propaganda to lead citizens into believing that LGN is environmentally friendly. Quintanar pointed out that one of the myths being promoted is that LNG is safe. "This just isn't true. In the cooling process you use a lot of chemicals. This can change surrounding water temperatures by 20 degrees. Not only the water is affected. An illuminated platform, lit by high intensity lights 24/7 can disrupt migratory bird populations. It's also highly flammable," he said.

Powers added that, "Peter Levine, chairman for [insurance underwriters] Lloyds of London has stated that one LNG ship exploded by terrorists would have the same effect as a nuclear bomb going off."

Several people suggested that alternative energy sources be used. "Why can't they make it mandatory that solar panels are installed in new housing developments? If we made the houses sustainable, we wouldn't need these big plants after a while," said Andrew Watkins, also a surfer and electrician. "I've installed several whole house solar systems and it's totally feasible. After a while the meter goes backwards and you're basically selling energy to the electric company."

Watkins said that such solar systems were initially expensive, starting from around $30,000. "But when you think about what they're charging for houses, isn't it a realistic idea to pass a law requiring solar panels be built into houses in new developments? Harry's is so beautiful; hidden from the highway. I would hate to see it destroyed," he said.

For more information on LNG plants and environmental concerns go to www.borderpowerplants.org or www.WiLDCOAST.net