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Back From LNG-related documents released by Governor John Baldacci pursuant to a 9/29/04 Freedom of Access Law request. =============================================== From: "Wahl" wahl@midmaine.com
Original Message -----
Here's something I just received this morning - thought you might be
interested.
Original Message -----
> From Nancy Nilis:
> Hurrah for Vera Francis - and all of the Passamaquoddys that are fighting
> this monster.
> And - its about time we all start writing both Senators Snowe & Collins -
Move on foot is a huge press conference in Augusta in early October -
> Stay tuned - it will be happening - it will happen on a Tuesday, Wednesday
> http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/coast/040911lng.shtml
>
> Saturday, September 11, 2004
> Critics to seek new vote on LNG
> By DENNIS HOEY, Portland Press Herald Writer
> Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> HARPSWELL < A group calling itself We Take Care of the Homeland said
> Friday that it plans to challenge an August vote that authorized leaders of
> the Passamaquoddy Tribal Council to negotiate terms with the developer of a
> liquefied natural gas terminal. The group's spokeswoman, Vera Francis,
> accompanied by former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Carter,
> met Friday afternoon in Harpswell with representatives of citizen groups
> that were successful in defeating an LNG project in their community.
>
> Members of Fair Play for Harpswell and Fishing Families for Harpswell
> spent the afternoon talking with Francis and Carter about strategies to
> defeat the Quoddy Bay LLC project. Francis said her group will file a
> petition with tribal leaders seeking a new vote.
>
> "We oppose the destruction of our homeland and our belief system,"
> Francis said. "There just has not been ample time to consider the real cost,
> the real price that we would have to pay to host an LNG terminal."
>
> In June, Quoddy Bay LLC of Tulsa, Okla., announced that a partnership
> of energy developers would seek permission to build a liquefied natural gas
> terminal on a 42-acre site at the Pleasant Point Indian Reservation. At the
> time, developers said the project could create as many as 1,000 construction
> jobs and more than 50 permanent jobs.
>
> Quoddy Bay's project surfaced after Harpswell voters decided in March
> to reject an offer from TransCanada and ConocoPhillips that would have given
> those companies the rights to lease town-owned land on Middle Bay.
>
> Though the companies were offering $8 million a year in lease fees and
> property tax revenues, Harpswell residents feared that the terminal, the
> tankers it would attract and the underwater pipeline needed to convey the
> gas would destroy fishing grounds and the town's character.
>
> Earlier this year, a proposal for an LNG terminal on Hope Island off
> Cumberland or Cousins Island off Yarmouth sparked intense debate. Those
> projects were withdrawn. State officials also denied rumors that they were
> planning to let a developer build an LNG terminal on state-owned Sears
> Island on Penobscot Bay.
>
> And earlier this week, Cianbro Corp. withdrew plans to develop an LNG
> terminal at a former Navy surveillance base in Gouldsboro, after
> encountering stiff opposition from fishermen.
>
> Although Gov. John Baldacci has said he would support an LNG terminal
> to help reduce energy costs, he has also said he would not back a project
> over the opposition of a host community.
>
> "If you want to feed the energy beast (and) if you want to stabilize
> prices, then LNG is the logical way to go," said Jack Cashman, commissioner
> of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
>
> Since Cianbro backed off, "my gut feeling is, I don't know if we will
> see another LNG project in the near future," he said.
>
> Passamaquoddy members voted in August in a nonbinding referendum to
> support construction of an LNG facility on their lands. The final vote was
> 192-132.
>
> Craig Francis, legal adviser to the Passamaquoddy Tribe, said tribal
> leaders regarded the vote as a mandate to negotiate an agreement with Quoddy
> Bay, a process that began about two weeks ago. Tribal leaders have until May
> to reach a final agreement.
>
> Francis said that any attempt by the opposition group to block the
> negotiations would be futile.
>
> "The public opinion is clear. This project is going to happen," he
> said. "The opposition is a dollar short and a day late. There is nothing
> they can do now."
>
> Jim Mitchell, spokesman for Quoddy Bay LLC, said negotiations could be
> wrapped up in a matter of weeks.
>
> As for the opposition, Mitchell said, "People have every right to
> express their views. We expect that. It's part of the process," he said.
>
> Vera Francis noted that there are two reservations, and that only
> Pleasant Point was allowed to vote on the proposal. Indian Point Reservation
> is also mounting a petition drive.
>
> "Our process has always been an open system and nothing is ever a done
> deal," she said.
>
> Harpswell residents say they are more than happy to help because of
> their belief that the Maine coast is not an appropriate location for an LNG
> plant.
>
> "The state needs to start thinking about a one-year moratorium on LNG
> while we conduct a feasibility study that looks at the entire state," said
> Chris Duval, a member of Fair Play for Harpswell.
>
> Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 725-8795 or at:
>
> dhoey@pressherald.com
>
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>
>
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