Posted on 03/19/2014 1:18:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Right on cue, as it becomes obvious that Europe needs to be less dependent on Russian gas and oil, environmental groups here in the US have begun stepping up presure on President Obama to reject building the infrastructure necessary to help realize that strategic need. A coalition of environmental groups is calling on the administration to reject permits that would build Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals.
Environmental groups called on President Obama Tuesday to reject pending applications to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals, citing the negative impacts from natural gas throughout its life cycle.
The pressure from green groups comes amid Republican calls for the administration to speed up the application process in response to Russia’s use of its natural gas resources as political leverage over Europe. Russia supplies most of Ukraine’s natural gas and is also a major supplier throughout much of Europe.
The GOP argues the U.S. could loosen Russia’s grip over Ukraine and Europe by building more terminals and exporting more natural gas.
Success in delaying the Keystone XL pipeline through their pressure has emboldened these groups. And, with President Obama stating that climate change was one of his second term priorities, the groups are looking for every opportunity to use climate change as a justification for delaying or stopping hyrdocarbon use of any sort. In this case, it’s natural gas. Their first target is the proposed LNG terminal at Cove Point in Lusby, Md.:
The Sierra Club, 350.org and the Chesapeake Coalition, along with other allied groups, specifically asked Obama to have the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to conduct a full environmental review of Dominion Resources Inc.’s proposed Cove Point terminal.
“The proposed Cove Point LNG terminal would certainly make gas companies richer, but it would make our own country more poor,” Michael Brune, executive director of Sierra Club, told reporters Tuesday. “Building a new LNG terminal doesn’t strengthen our nation, and it further disrupts our climate.”
The groups argue increasing production of natural gas would lead to more hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, a natural-gas extraction process they said causes massive harm to the environment while releasing large amounts of greenhouse gas.
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, warned that supporting natural gas could be politically detrimental to the president.
“Everybody’s watching now, this kind of stuff. And Democratic politicians who thought they might get by with a wink and a nod aren’t,” McKibben said. “Fracking’s become a dirty word, for good reason. “
Of course, fracking isn’t a “dirty word” to anyone but environmentalists. Fracking has been in constant use since 1948 on over a million oil wells. It isn’t “new technology”, but certainly it is now improved technology and it allows us the bonanza in natural gas that we’re presently enjoying.
And if these environmental groups were really all about reducing greenhouse gases, they’d likely get behind the use of natural gas like the Sierra Club did in 2008. At the time it was taking millions from the natural gas industry:
“Use renewables as much as we can. Natural gas is the next-cleanest fuel, then we have oil and then we have coal… We’re trying to make sure that we innovatively and creatively use whatever fuel we burn (and) that we rely primarily on the fuels that are the cleanest… And, among the fossil fuels, natural gas is at the top.” – Carl Pope, Chairman, Sierra Club
That’s precisely the argument the environmental coalition received in answer to their claims:
In a statement responding to the letter, Dominion said natural gas could cut greenhouse gas emissions in half compared to using coal for electricity.
“Slowing or preventing natural gas exports from the United States is a step in exactly the wrong direction for those who are concerned about climate change,” Pamela Faggert, Dominion’s chief environmental officer, said in the statement.
This, of course, puts the Obama administration in a pickle. On the one hand, it is clear that increasing LNG exports is a strategically necessary move to counter the leverage Russia now enjoys over Europe with Europes dependence on Russian gas. But to do that, the numerous LNG terminal applications must be approved. On the other hand, this administration has been one of the most tenacious foes of the domestic petroleum industry in the history of the country. Only new finds on state and private lands have seen an increase in production as federal permits have been slow-walked or denied during the Obama administration and large projects, such as Keystone, delayed or possibly denied altogether.
The administration will now be faced with a decision to support its strategic allies and make it harder for Russia to expand its power or cave into the green group pressure and further cripple the country’s ability to wean itself from imported petroleum and exploit the huge natural gas reserves we enjoy.
Politics and ideology usually prevail with this administration so it won’t suprise anyone if, given Keystone, the premits are delayed indefinitely or rejected outright.
So...the green groups think coal or nuclear are a better answer? What is UP with these people?!
Solar and Windmill farms are probably greater environmental hazards than Natural Gas.
No. They want mass suicide. That is the real goal. Its not a joke.
“What is UP with these people?!”
They are most likely a coalition of anti-humanists, anti-American power groups, pro-Communists and basically everybody who against America having a leading role in anything except global warming and other wealth redistribution schemes. They are, in short, enemies of everybody you and I cherish.
Just a little chlorine in the eagle gene pool. I’m sure the smart eagles stay way the hell away from a 3 ton whirling blade assembly.
Stand by for Russia to extort political concessions from the European Union if they want Russian LNG. USA will be the only ones who can provide LNG if Russia will not. Russia controls the pipelines. Only USA will be able to export enough LNG to meet European needs. The world faces a New Stalin named PUTIN who wants the old USSR restored. Greens will have to take a back seat.
A year or so ago, there was proposed legislation in front of the EU Parliament in Brussels that would have banned fracking and shale gas exploration throughout the EU. Despite some REALLY intensive lobbying for an EU-wide fracking ban, the EU Parliament decided that each member could set its own policies in regard to that matter.
And who pray tell did the intensive lobbying?
GAZPROM. My shocked face, let me show you it. /
Matt Damon’s Anti-Fracking Movie Financed by Oil-Rich Arab Nation
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2937663/posts
The problem is the learning curve doesn't allow for many lessons prior to death. It is difficult for a bird brain to recognize the danger until there is a very near miss.
Birds get near tall objects with wavy branches on a regular basis.
I think it would be similar to expect the big birds to learn it is okay to sit on a bare power line, but it is not okay to stretch your wings or defecate in a way that makes contact with second line.
No, there are significant amounts from others. Qatar, Malaysia, Australia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Trinidad and Algeria already export more LNG than Russia.
IGU World LNG Report – 2013 Edition
http://www.igu.org/gas-knowhow/publications/igu-publications/IGU_world_LNG_report_2013.pdf
3.2. LNG EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
Page 9
“And who pray tell did the intensive lobbying? GAZPROM. My shocked face, let me show you it. /”
We stand on the verge of an energy revolution. The left and the energy old guard are trying desperately to stop it. Major factors in making America the most powerful nation were cheap energy and the automobile. Right now it costs me $5 just to drive into town and back. We’re teetering on an abyss when we should be in another golden age. We must recapture the government and education. The next generation are the most anti-American liberal wishy-washy kids I’ve ever seen. (Oh, last year the average price of a car was $32,000. The basic insurance without medical, stacking or collision on my 2003 Ford cost $500/year and I’m 60.)
I’m thinking Green groups have PAID off the Obama administration...etc and etc
Too many forget the reason we got both in significant volumes more quickly than other nations was the ability of the individuals to reap significant financial reward for risking their time and capital. Individually owned mineral resources drove the development far faster than state owned resources.
Russia can always find some useful idiots in the US liberal toolshed. It was ever thus.
Wouldn't doubt it if the 'Greens' are on 'New Stalin's' payroll.
They should live in unheated huts with their only transportation as walking.
Adding energy supplies to eastern Europe diminishes Putin's choke hold and increasing oil production cuts back the Russians dollar flow....Both are replies to their aggresion that they can't stand.
They’re kidding, right? Natural gas—which can be made from many sources—emits way less harmful emissions than the burning of gasoline, diesel or coal. In fact, that’s why compressed natural gas is now being widely adopted for buses and taxis worldwide as a major means of cleaning up the air in cities.
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