LNG Critics promise money to grow on trees

While it's not quite a promise that money will grow on trees, critics of liquefied natural gas are claiming that domestic production of the resource will increase 20% in the next 20 years:

Powers, chairman of the Border Power Plant Working Group, disputed Meheen's argument that domestic natural gas supplies are dwindling. Powers said domestic production is expected to increase by 20 percent over the next 20 years.

He said California should concentrate on energy conservation and investing in renewable sources such as wind and solar power. "The cheapest way to go forward is with aggressive conservation," said Powers.

While Bill Powers' claims about domestic production are dubious, it is important to focus on alternative energy, but even the most aggressive plans--like Los Angeles' 20% renewables--will not mitigate the need for LNG in California.