Natural Gas Ports under fire

Natural Gas is a key component in California's energy mix. Every day, we use it to heat our water, cook our food and fuel our fireplaces. The environmentally-friendly fuel is also used to generate electricity.

A great product, it is in high demand...and California is trying to figure out how to get more of it. One solution to importing natural gas, however, is facing challenges:

"We don't believe any accident will leave our property," said Thomas Giles, chief executive officer for Sound Energy Solutions, the Mitsubishi subsidiary proposing the Long Beach terminal.

But the possibility of monumental fires and increased reliance on foreign fuels is generating growing opposition to recent proposals to put an LNG terminal at Long Beach and three more off Southern California's coast.

Protests in Eureka and Vallejo already killed terminal proposals in those communities. Malibu's City Council voted to oppose two proposed terminals off its shores.

The California Sierra Club is fighting all the proposals and has joined 26 other environmental groups in urging the state to pursue energy efficiency instead of new energy production.

The environmental coalition plans to voice its concerns in a meeting today with state Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman and Environmental Secretary Terry Tamminen.

Chrisman said at least one terminal should be built in the state, if it can operate safely without harming the environment.

Of course, if safety is the greatest concern, then the natural solution would be to locate an LNG port off-shore, and as far away from residential centers as possible--as is the case with the project being opposed by the Malibu City Council. Reminds us why the term, "Malibu Environmentalist" came about!