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LNG on the Columbia bad for economy
Studies of the proposed Providence Rhode Island LNG facility at Weaver Cove also makes solid arguments for why LNG tankers and facilities on the Columbia River is fundamentally a bad idea.
The article by the Boston Globe, entitled Studies: LNG tanker transits would affect economy, hurt traffic document how the huge (900' +) tankers carrying LNG "could cause traffic backups, hurt tourism and marine economies and slow emergency response times". In this case, they are talking about Narragansett Bay (a bit bigger than the mouth of the Columbia River), but the blockage of commercial traffic, fishing, and private use due to security zones around the tankers is similar to what we'd face on the Columbia.
The studies focus on the economic impact and baseline safety instead of terrorism concerns. "This has nothing to do with terrorists or tankers blowing up or anything," said Keith Stokes, executive director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce. "This has to do with our vision over the next 10 years for the economy..."
The article goes on to cite the size of the security zones: "The ships would be protected by a security zone two miles ahead, one mile behind and more than a half-mile on either side..."
If such security zones were implemented here, all traffic on the Columbia River would have to be halted (as well as the highways that run along the river on both sides).
In the Rhode Island scenerio, "Stokes said he was concerned the tankers would change the image of Narragansett Bay in the minds of recreational boaters, coastal residents and developers. 'It turns Narragansett Bay into a highway for these tankers,' he said." Concerns about the traffic delays across the bridges are also cited, as the would not only cause significant delays when the bridges are shut down due to security concerns, but also that "Those delays could prevent fire, ambulance and other services from responding quickly to emergencies." The situation here with the Astoria bridge parallels the scenerio in Rhode Island, where the prospect of regularly shutting down the Astoria bridge is fraught with issues.
Clearly, putting LNG plants on, and LNG tankers in the Columbia River is a poorly conceived idea, especially given that by siting these facilities offshore, it alleviates the need to bring such tankers into the Columbia River at all.
August 24, 2005 in Bradwood, News, Northern Star, Wahkiakum County | Permalink
Comments
This all rings of the Salmon debacle, the Mt. St. Helens scare, the dredging worries and so mcu more.
We do not live in a 3rd world country, where life is cheap. Most of those who are against this were against fishing, logging, and oil & gas production. SO now we have a lagging economy, but it doesn't affect them, becuase they are either retired or have incomes or well-paying jobs.
So lets just keep stealing opportunity from the working poor around here so the elites can sip their latte's, served by those who haven't the funds or political power to change things.
This isn't about safety or the environment, it's about money for the elites. Let's face it. They don't want an LNG plant on the river, miles from most of us, but would have evryone drive around with dangerous hydrogen generators in their cars...I guess science just is not in the view of the public.
Posted by: john | Oct 6, 2005 10:14:18 AM
Having attended numerous meetings of the people concerned with the idea of putting LNG facilities on the Columbia River, it is clear that 'john' is projecting his bias instead of talking with the people involved. These folks are not "against fishing, logging, and oil & gas production", rather they are opposed to putting heavy industrial LNG facilities on the Columbia River where it doesn't belong instead of putting it offshore.
Contrary to what 'john' believes, no one is opposed to improving job opportunities in Wahkiakum and other river counties, but instead are well enough informed to understand that while Northen Star is promising a total of 6 jobs for Wahkiakum county workers, the LNG facilities would destroy far more jobs in fishing and tourism related industries.
The projection that opposition to LNG on the Columbia is "about money for the elites" is not only erroneous but backward as well--the only "elites" that stand to gain money from such LNG plants are the few corporate executives at Northern Star--the people of Wahkiakum and the rest of the Columbia River only stand to lose if these facilities are built.
It is easy to understand the frustration with the overall economic conditions in Wahkiakum county, yet putting in LNG will not improve job opportunities but will damage the fishing and tourism related industries--two of the main industries Wahkiakum has historically counted on.
Selling out the Columbia River and the related tourism and fishing industries for the empty promises of Northen Star is folly indeed.
Posted by: NoColumbiaLNG | Oct 19, 2005 9:25:32 PM
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