Natural gas has important environmental benefits. Burning natural gas, instead of oil and coal, to create electricity results in less harmful air pollution and fewer emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. While the region should take advantage of every opportunity to reduce overall energy demand through increased efficiency and reduce demand for fossil fuels through increased use of renewable energy, CLF considers liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be an important transitional fuel until the region moves to a comprehensive renewable energy base.

Controversy has erupted across the region around a number of proposals to build LNG terminals. The current case-by-case approach has pitted communities against one another in wrestling with the merits and the risks of specific proposals. CLF has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), New England's coastal governors and other key policymakers to develop a regional strategy for siting LNG terminals in New England.

CLF has analyzed the region's gas supply needs and has determined that the need for new gas delivery capacity is real, but that not more than one or two new LNG terminals are needed to serve the region. There is one terminal under construction in St. John, New Brunswick and there is a companion proposal to triple the capacity of the gas pipeline from Eastern Canada through Maine and into the Boston market. Completion of these projects will not only add new supplies but also reduce the risk of supply interruption and price volatility in the region.

CLF is opposing a proposed terminal for Fall River, MA because it would be in a heavily populated urban center and would raise insoluble safety problems. Another proposal for a terminal on Outer Brewster Island in Boston Harbor would violate a state and national park designation, so CLF has vigorously opposed that project.

Two LNG terminal projects planned for offshore sites in Massachusetts Bay are moving toward receiving permits from federal authorities. These have the advantage of avoiding the safety problems of on-shore sites. CLF has participated in discussions with project developers to reduce marine impacts, to greatly reduce seawater discharges, and to significantly reduce air emissions. In addition, CLF has worked to increase mitigation funding by the developers.

Two other proposed sites in Robbinston and Pleasant Point, Maine - both in Passamaquoddy Bay - are land based terminal projects and are on a slower path toward getting permits. CLF has requested FERC to include it as a full participant on the environmental review of the projects and on all energy system impacts discussions.

CLF expects that economic market forces will support the construction of only one new terminal in New England over the next decade, leaving other projects in the position of being hard to finance. CLF's advocacy on all of these proposals is designed to assure that only the best project is permitted.

More on LNG:

• Background
• What is LNG?
• LNG Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Map of Proposed Sites for LNG Terminals
• Sandia Laboratories LNG Risk Analysis and Safety Report (PDF)

Contacts:

Sean Mahoney
Maine Advocacy Center Director

Seth Kaplan
Clean Energy & Climate Change Program Director

Press:

• 9/9/04 - The Boston Globe joins CLF's call for a regional LNG strategy
• 9/2009 - Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Maine Watch covers LNG
• 9/2009 - Maine Public Broadcasting Network: LNG web extra

Contact CLF for additional press releases.

Advocacy Documents:

• 3/4/09 - CLF Comments Relative to Weaver's Cove LNG FERC Application (PDF)
• 10/26/07 - Ruling of the First Circuit Court of Appeals Relative to Weaver's Cove LNG (PDF)
• 1/22/07 - CLF's Reply Memorandum of Law (PDF)
• 10/4/06 - CLF's Principle Brief Challenging FERC's Approval of Weaver's Cove LNG (PDF)
• 7/28/06 - CLF Comments in Response to Proposed FERC Rulemaking (PDF)