reEarth wants govt’s position on LNG plans
reEarth wants govt’s position on LNG plans
By Stephen Gay, Guardian Staff Reporter, stephen@nasguard.com
Local environmental group Re-Earth is demanding that the government state its position and answer questions regarding its direction on the issue of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the proposed construction of an LNG facility.
Re-Earth spokesperson Sam Duncombe said the government must let the public know its position on the issue that has been lingering for years.
She pointed out that since returning to office a year ago, all that has come from the Ingraham administration is that “LNG is not a priority issue.”
“That statement just keeps the door on LNG open as far as Re-Earth is concerned,” Duncombe said. “This issue is seven years in the making and it is time for the government to respond in favor of the thousands of people that oppose this plant being sited here.”
Re-Earth is calling on the government of The Bahamas to take the LNG facility off the back burner and out of the ‘house’ entirely, as it is not in the best interest of The Bahamas and should simply be put to rest.
“Its long overdue that the voices and concerns of the people who actually put these politicians in office are heard, instead of always going to the developer and allowing them to do whatever they want,” Duncombe told The Guardian.
“We basically want AES and the government to know that we are not going away, …and we want the government to make a strong statement against energy facilities that actually do nothing to help The Bahamas with its energy issues.”
About a month ago AES, one of the LNG companies seeking to establish a de-gasification facility in The Bahamas sought to sweeten the pot for the government to approve the project, by offering The Bahamas the option to use some of the Florida-bound gas locally.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, head of LNG projects for AES, Aaron Samson said the details of the new proposal were currently before the government.
“We are actively in talks with the government and hope to wrap up the process soon,” he said.
AES is eyeing an end-of-year deadline to get a response from the government.
“Encouraging the burning of yet another fossil fuel plant will only put The Bahamas in further jeopardy when it comes to global warming and sea level rise,” Duncombe said. “The monies offered to The Bahamas as compensation for all of the above is not equal to the risks taken. Also, this compensation compared to the profits of AES is a pittance.”
However, Duncombe suggests that AES is fleeing U.S. environmental law so that it can set up its ‘dirty’ plant in The Bahamas, where the laws are lax or non-existent.
“This is nothing short of environmental imperialism – meeting the needs of the US without caring about the impact on The Bahamas. The LNG plant should be sited in Florida where the gas is going to be consumed with the necessary oversight.”
Duncombe reminded that her organization was able to get over 5,000 Bahamian voters to sign a petition saying ‘no’ to LNG.
LNG can be dangerous, as explosions have killed over 1000 people since 1944.