noLNG

Two reporters, advertising consultant depart

By STEVE FORRESTER
The Daily Astorian

We will shortly be losing two top-flight reporters. Cassandra Profita will join Oregon Public Broadcasting and Sandra Swain will retire and move to Olympia, Wash.
Complete article: http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=72271

Both reporters have become a household word in the local LNG drama. This blogger like this opportunity to thank Cassandra and Sandra for their excellence in the reports and wish them much success in their future endeavors.

Insanity Island plan comes to an end

By JOHN OSWALD • STAFF WRITER • July 30, 2010

At least some of the insanity is over. Late last week, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration formally acknowledged Atlantic Sea Island Group (ASIG)'s withdrawal of their permit application to construct "Safe Harbor Energy," a massive man-made island in the Atlantic Ocean to import foreign liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Complete article: http://www.app.com/article/20100730/OPINION05/7300342/Insanity-Island-plan-comes-to-an-end

N.J. firm withdraws application to build natural gas terminal off Jersey coast

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/nj_firm_withdraws_application.html

And another bites the dust.(Blogger)

Goldman Sachs backs away from Main LNG plant

The future of the Calais LNG project is in limbo after the proposed terminal slated to be built in eastern Maine lost the financial backing of Goldman Sachs.

Calais LNG had proposed building a liquefied natural gas terminal in eastern Maine but it hit a major snag as GS Power Holdings, a subsidiary of investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, decided to back away from the project.

Goldman Sachs officials could not be reached for comment about why they're pulling out after investing about $24 million in the project.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/07/26/nb-maine-lng-goldman-sachs-1258.html#ixzz0urGhduqe

Could this be the eye opener for the OLNG financial backers? (Blogger)

Is this the Unconventional Destruction of LNG?

We're going to have to pick a side, sooner or later.

Our decision may not come in the next six to twelve months, but you'll have to eventually choose between liquefied natural gas (LNG) and unconventional shale gas.

 
In North America, the decision has all but been made for us. It's true, there was a time when the LNG was being hailed as the wave of the future. The proof is in the numbers, too. Between 2002 and 2003, U.S. Imports of LNG jumped 121% to 506 billion cubic feet. By 2007, our LNG imports had jumped another 52% to 770 billion cubic feet.

For other investors, it was a new era for natural gas

Complete article: http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/is-this-the-unconventional-destruction-of-lng/1222

Experts say LNG capacity, shale production may help end gas volatility

By Brian Schutt.

Like no other time in history, the United States natural gas industry has the infrastructure and technological wherewithal to respond to market signals and limit price volatility, industry experts concluded July 19 at a regulatory conference.

Blessed with a shale gale of resources, a swath of LNG capacity and robust storage levels, industry experts and observers told participants at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners summer meetings in Sacramento, Calif., that the natural gas market swings, which sent prices soaring beyond $13/Mcf as recently as 2008, could be a thing of the past.

Complete article: http://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/article.aspx?CDID=A-11471839-13863&KPLT=2

Governor sees no need for LNG

Kulongoski dogged in appeal of FERC’s certification of Bradwood

By SANDRA SWAIN
The Daily Astorian

Gov. Ted Kulongoski is clear on liquefied natural gas terminals.

"I have never believed they could make an argument of need for LNG. I don't think they have ever made a case," he said, referring to the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

"Why are we spending all this money, all this time, all this debate if they can't tell me there's a need for this," Kulongoski said.

ALEX PAJUNAS — The Daily Astorian
Gov. Ted Kulongoski answers question during a meeting at The Daily Astorian office with Publisher and Editor Steve Forrester Wednesday
His comments came during an interview with The Daily Astorian during a visit to the North Coast Wednesday.

Kulongoski said the Department of State Lands has not yet made a decision on whether to renew the lease with Port of Astoria for Oregon LNG's proposed facility in Warrenton.

And, he said, the state is still pursuing an appeal in federal court on FERC's certification of the Bradwood Landing LNG site east of Astoria, even though the company has declared bankruptcy. "I don't want anyone else to buy it," Kulongoski said.

Complete article: http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=72079

Kitzhaber says natural gas, not LNG, is the answer

By PATRICK WEBB
The Daily Astorian

John Kitzhaber believes natural gas is a much-needed transition fuel while Oregon embraces other sources, but he is wary of liquefied natural gas.

 
The former governor, who is seeking an unprecedented third term, set out his position Friday. He told executives at the annual convention of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association in Salem that he wasn't as vehement an opponent of LNG as Bill Bradbury, whom he defeated in the Democratic primary.

Complete article: http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=72031

BLM approves Ruby Pipeline

By MEAD GRUVER Associated Press Writer

Story Created: Jul 13, 2010 at 4:36 PM MDT

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- A $3 billion gas pipeline from Wyoming to Oregon has cleared its last major regulatory hurdle, and its builder is optimistic that work could begin soon.

El Paso Corp. has begun staging equipment and pipe sections near the 675-mile route, company spokesman Richard Wheatley said Tuesday. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved and granted rights-of-way for the project Monday.

"We can mobilize workers and work camps to begin clearing and grading operations as soon as we get final regulatory approval," Wheatley said. "We're in good shape."

Houston-based El Paso expects final Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval within days, he said, and construction would begin soon after.

The pipeline will begin in western Wyoming and cross northern Utah and Nevada before ending at Malin, Ore. Up to 5,000 workers will work on the project at Opal, which will begin in seven locations along the pipeline route.
Full story: http://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/local/BLM-approves-Ruby-Pipeline-98368909.html

The costs are more than financial

We cannot look the other way on the Hanford cleanup controversy
Referring in print to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation as America's Chernobyl is a pretty good way to get a call from Hanford's press office, which is understandably anxious to avoid comparison with the Soviet reactor disaster. But according to the latest analysis, Chernobyl may start calling to complain about being lumped together with Hanford.
More: http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=71879