Free Republic

SACRAMENTO - Despite continuing opposition from environmentalists, a $1 billion liquefied natural gas facility proposed for off the Malibu coast could win key state approvals as early as next week. To be built by Australian energy giant BHP Billiton and anchored about 14 miles offshore, the floating facility would become California's first such plant. The 214-foot-high terminal would accept liquefied natural gas from tankers, convert it into natural gas and pipe it to a facility in Oxnard. "The facility we're proposing is absolutely the most environmental facility out there," said Renee Klimczak, president of BHP's liquefied natural gas division. "That's...