Expert declares LNG Safe

Writing in the Ventura County Star, the International Liquefied Natural Gas Association's David Sweet expounds upon the energy source's excellent safety racord:

With decades of use throughout the world, LNG has proved to be a safe, reliable and affordable energy source. LNG is nontoxic, nonexplosive and only flammable within a narrow range of concentrations with air. In the continental United States, there are four onshore LNG receiving terminals and more than 100 LNG facilities are used for temporary storage of natural gas. The LNG industry has also had a remarkable safety record, with no cargo-related explosions, deaths or personal injuries for more than 40 years.

Since international commercial shipping began in 1959, there have been more than 80,000 LNG carrier voyages without a serious accident at sea or in port. In more than 100 million miles of shipping, no significant cargo has ever been lost and there has never been a transport incident involving explosion or fire.

Nonetheless, misinformation has been spread in the United States about phantom LNG-related dangers. This propaganda campaign, combined with an understandable lack of awareness about LNG, has slowed the development of an LNG infrastructure.

While there is no such thing as a completely risk-free energy resource, LNG has demonstrated an enviable safety record. Moreover, any new LNG facilities will be closely evaluated by numerous government agencies as part of the permitting process.

Far more dangerous than the risks of liquefied natural gas is what will happen if California fails to plan for its energy future.

Indeed.