California regulators today will begin considering a proposal by the world's largest mining company to moor a liquefied natural gas processing plant off the Southern California coast, setting the stage for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to approve or reject the project.

The three-member State Lands Commission -- composed of Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, state Controller John Chung and a representative of the governor -- will meet in Oxnard to hear public testimony on BHP Billiton's application to lease state waters for the floating $800 million terminal.

On Thursday, the California Coastal Commission will meet in Santa Barbara to consider the complex, which would be the length of three football fields and house three 160-foot-high storage tanks.

BHP, an Australian company, spent nearly $3 million between 2004 and 2006 to lobby state officials.

The federal government kick- ed off the series of public hearings in Oxnard last week when U.S. Coast Guard officials heard public testimony, which will be submitted to the Maritime Administration.

For the project to move forward, it must be approved by the federal and state agencies. Garamendi and Chung have not taken a position -- and neither has Schwarzenegger, who has until May 21 to act.

LNG is a fossil fuel that is supercooled, loaded onto tankers and shipped across the ocean to be unloaded and regasified onshore.

The so-called Cabrillo port project -- 14 miles off the Ventura-Los Angeles county line -- would become the portal from which California gets LNG from Australia. The fuel would be carried by two pipelines snaking 22 miles along the ocean floor.

Opponents -- including most of the people who testified at last week's hearing -- contend the terminal would increase air and marine pollution. They also warn a rupture caused by accident or a terrorist attack could ignite a mile-high...

Under typical marine layer conditions, which prevail 325 to 340 days a year, the FSRU is not perceptible to the naked eye. Under clear conditions, which prevail 25 to 40 days a year, Cabrillo Port will be barely visible from Point Mugu (its closest point to shore at approximately 14 miles). Independent modeling experts have advised the state of California that under clear conditions the FSRU will have the visual impact of a "grain of rice" held between the thumb and forefinger with your arm fully extended from your body.

Cabrillo Port, BHP Billiton

From link above:

*********************************************

Cabrillo Port - A New Source for Clean, Reliable Energy...

California produces only 15 percent of the total natural gas needed to operate our businesses, warm our homes, feed our families and get to work everyday. Although some new power plants are being built and conservation measures adopted, California's demand for more power will continue to increase.

Widely used throughout the world for decades, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported through Cabrillo Port is a reliable option to help address future natural gas needs here in Ventura County, and throughout California. Cabrillo Port will be a floating liquefied natural gas receiving facility moored more than 21 miles offshore from the nearest population areas of Port Hueneme and Oxnard in Ventura County. Cabrillo Port will require no onshore storage tanks, and it will not use or extend the life of offshore oil platforms off the California coastline.

LNG will be transferred by BHP Billiton's LNG carriers to Cabrillo Port's location offshore, where it will be converted back into natural gas. The natural gas will be carried onshore through two underwater pipelines and connect to Southern California Gas Company's onshore natural gas pipeline distribution system. This system has been safely delivering natural gas to homes and businesses in Southern California for decades.

Cabrillo Port is a state-of-the-art facility, using proven technology that will provide Southern California with a naturally clean, safe and reliable energy supply.

Cabrillo Port will create jobs and bring significant economic benefits to the local communities within Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

For over three years, Cabrillo Port has been undergoing an extensive safety and environmental review by both state and federal governments. Over a dozen public hearings have been conducted, each with public comment periods. This open community process promotes a open and constructive debate on the public safety, environmental and economic need for this project.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.