Press Releases

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Group Outraged at Latest Fossil Fuel Assault on the Ocean

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2008

CONTACTS: Kari Martin, David Byer, or Cindy Zipf, 732-872-0111

Third Proposed LNG Port to Bring Bad Energy Policy & Pollution to NY/NJ Coast

Sandy Hook, NJ – Clean Ocean Action (COA) blasts the latest assault on the ocean, announced today by a new energy conglomerate Excalibur – a joint venture between Canadian Superior Energy and Global LNG, Inc.  The project entitled, “Liberty Natural Gas,” would be located 15 miles off New Jersey coast.

“There is nothing ‘liberating’ about industrializing our ocean, becoming more dependent on foreign fossils fuels, and increasing our energy costs,” said Cindy Zipf, COA Executive Director.  “We must remain vigilant and stop all three of these monstrous projects – the ocean is no one’s guinea pig.”

The Liberty Natural Gas project will be built in 100 feet of water and receive its supply of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) from tankers that will connect to permanently-anchored turrets on the seafloor.  The LNG will be re-gasified onboard the ships and pumped through the turrets into the pipeline.  The project will require fifty miles of 36” offshore pipeline, an underground shoreline approach near South Amboy, NJ, and eleven miles of onshore pipeline in an existing industrial corridor to Linden, NJ.  The project is expected to cost $550 million, will have the capacity to provide up to 2.4 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas.

“For twenty years we have worked hard to turn our ocean from Ocean Dumping Capitol of the World to the Clean Ocean Zone.  We are enjoying the benefits and our coastal economy is thriving.  Now, industries have set their greedy eyes on our ocean and threaten all that this region has worked for in improving our ocean waters, and our quality of life,” added Zipf. 

“We already know the path to a cleaner, greener future: efficiency, conservation, and renewables – not more foreign fossil fuels,” said David Byer, COA Water Policy Attorney.  “Further, 97% of natural gas currently used in the United Sates is from domestic sources.  We do not need to build more of these fossil fuel facilities, as existing LNG ports in the US are not being used.  In addition, these facilities will force us to pay high, global prices to attract LNG supplies, which will make consumers pay more for energy, not less.”

“The gutless energy conglomerate doesn’t reveal the location of their proposed facility.  Citizens should rise-up and express their outrage to this privatization of the ocean,” said Kari Martin, Policy Communications Director.  “These proposed LNG ports are harmful for the region’s economy and environment, and are prime examples of bad energy policy.”

Clean Ocean Action continues to spearhead a citizen action campaign to build opposition to the proposed port facilities.  The action campaign includes online and paper petitions, resolutions for groups to sign, and a sample resolution for municipalities. 

This is the third LNG proposal for the Clean Ocean Zone.  The two other projects are: “Safe Harbor Energy,” a plan by The Atlantic Sea Island Group to build a man-made island for a LNG terminal and industrial complex 13 miles from Long Beach, NY, and 19 miles from Sea Bright, NJ; and “BlueOcean Energy,” Exxon Mobil’s planned floating LNG terminal for 20 miles off Manasquan, NJ.

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