LNG Opposition Mounts
by James Finlaw, Herald
News Staff Reporter, 1/25/2004
Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. is attempting to enlist the aid of local residents in the city's fight against Weaver's Cove Energy's proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in the city's North End.
The LNG task force Lambert
assembled in October to review Weaver's Cove's plans for an LNG
terminal at the former Shell Oil site is inviting city residents
to attend a public MEETING MONDAY NIGHT at the Fire Department's
headquarters at 140 Commerce Drive. The goal, said Lambert, is
to let residents voice their concerns about the project, and
have a hand in crafting the city's official objections to it.
"We want to try to make this task force as effective as
possible, and
we need neighborhood input to do that," he said.
The task force has spent the past few months compiling information
and
forming questions and comments that it will submit to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission by Jan. 30. The FERC is the agency
charged with reviewing Weaver's Cove's proposal to build a $250
million LNG terminal on the waterfront. Jan. 30 is the deadline
for the first round of public comments on the project, though
the city, through its federal legislative delegation, is petitioning
for a deadline extension.
Task force members include
Lambert, former City Councilor Ann ONeil-Souza, City Councilor
Joseph Camara, Fire Chief Edward J. Dawson, Police Chief John
M. Souza, state Sen. Joan M. Menard, state Rep. David B. Sullivan,
D-Fall River, city Director of Municipal Services James Smith
and Green Futures member Al Lima. Lambert said all would be on
hand for the meeting, which is set for 7 p.m. at the
Fire Department complex.
"I really think people
need to get riled up. The more time progresses, the more I think
Fall River was selected (for an LNG terminal) because it's something
they think they can shove down our throat," said Lambert.
"Youd never see this in Kennebunkport," said Lambert,
referring to the location of President Bush's holiday retreat
in coastal Maine.
Lambert said the city has been
sending fliers to residents living within a half mile of the
proposed LNG terminal, and posting fliers around the city to
encourage people to attend the meeting. He said a presentation
by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Emeritus James
Fay last week regarding the dangers of LNG terminals, and a deadly
accident at an LNG facility in Algeria, have strengthened his
beliefs that an LNG terminal doesnt belong in the city.
"We shouldn't be resigned to this. It's a quality of life
issue. I'm more convinced than ever, having heard Dr. Fay last
night (Thursday) and the incident in Algeria," said Lambert.
Besides submitting comments,
Lambert said the city plans to seek legal standing as an "intervener"
in the case. The FERC allows individuals or entities that can
demonstrate they will be directly impacted by the advent of LNG
terminals to be granted status as interveners. The status would
enable the city to hold up FERC's approval of Weaver's Cove project
in court if it could be proven the permitting process was flawed.
The city's desire to prevent construction of the terminal will
undoubtedly be a difficult struggle, as local sentiment runs
contrary to the policies of the federal government.
The Bush administration, the
federal Department of Energy, and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan
Greenspan all favor the proliferation of LNG terminals to meet
what they see as an impending fuel shortage. Weaver's Cove CEO
Gordon Shearer said Friday that he felt the company had a better
than 50 percent chance of approval. Fay has also said he believes
the FERC will OK the project.
"I think it is an uphill fight, but one of the things we
have going for us is that one of these things (LNG terminals)
hasn't been sited in 30 years," said Lambert.
"I think, unfortunately, too many times in the past, Fall
Riverites have had the attitude that you can't fight the powers
that be ... we need to stand up for ourselves. This project has
no place in a densely populated city," he said.