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Opposition in Eureka to LNG Terminal
Citizens of Humboldt county voiced their opposition to a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Humboldt bay, near downtown Eureka, Tuesday night in Eureka.
The majority of the 1500 citizens who attended the Eureka City Council meeting expressed their opposition to Calpine Corporation's proposed liquefied natural gas terminal at the edge of Humboldt bay. Calpine wants to place this facility on the Samoa peninsula less than one mile from downtown Eureka.
The spokesman for Calpine claimed the terminal would bring jobs and tax revenue to the region, but the people who spoke were concerned with safety and the enviromental impact.The first speaker pointed out the danger of such a facility so near a city. He cited such accidents as Bophal and Port Chicago to illustrate his point.
The audience was highly supportive of opposition speakers and critical of any in favor of the plan. The mayor constantly admonished the crowd to be quiet; to no avail. An elderly woman stated that the the council "should postpone a vote on the issue until hell freezes over." One speaker became so emotional the police escorted him off the floor. Over two hundred people signed up to speak at the council meeting. Most of those who chose to speak were dead set against this plan.
For more info: http://www.wildcalifornia.org
The spokesman for Calpine claimed the terminal would bring jobs and tax revenue to the region, but the people who spoke were concerned with safety and the enviromental impact.The first speaker pointed out the danger of such a facility so near a city. He cited such accidents as Bophal and Port Chicago to illustrate his point.
The audience was highly supportive of opposition speakers and critical of any in favor of the plan. The mayor constantly admonished the crowd to be quiet; to no avail. An elderly woman stated that the the council "should postpone a vote on the issue until hell freezes over." One speaker became so emotional the police escorted him off the floor. Over two hundred people signed up to speak at the council meeting. Most of those who chose to speak were dead set against this plan.
For more info: http://www.wildcalifornia.org
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LNG debate draws huge crowd
By Meghan Vogel
The Times-Standard
EUREKA -- The Eureka City Council has postponed its vote on an exclusive right to negotiate agreement with Calpine Corp. until all public speakers can be accommodated.
Another special meeting will be held Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. at the Eureka Municipal Auditorium. The council will hear public comment until 8 p.m. and then make its decision. When the council adjourned its meeting at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 107 public speakers were still scheduled to go before the council. Those speakers will be heard first at Thursday's meeting.
A total of 77 people spoke Tuesday, with 59 speaking against the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal, and 18 in favor of entering into a contract with the San Jose energy company.
Calpine is looking to build a $1 billion terminal to receive LNG from tankers and store it on the Samoa Peninsula. The natural gas would then be shipped by pipeline to the Central Valley.
The exclusive right to negotiate agreement would allow the city to reserve the property while Calpine presents its project to the community through an independent study. Opponents of the LNG project fear the agreement would allow Calpine to seek permitting from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, thus taking away control of the project at the local level.
It was a far cry from most city council meetings. Approximately 1,500 filled the auditorium when the meeting began at 6 p.m. Protesters stood on the steps of the auditorium waving signs, while another group in favor of the agreement passed out green stickers reading "Facts, fairness, vote yes." Police officers stood at the entrance of the auditorium.
"I've got the anxiety of running the meeting, but the council has the anxiety of making the decision," said Eureka Mayor Peter La Vallee before the meeting started.
At times the meeting threatened to turn into the free-for-all the mayor had feared. Before the public comment period on the LNG agreement was even opened, a speaker declared himself a write-in presidential candidate, shouted at the council and had to be escorted back to his seat by Eureka Police Chief Dave Douglas.
Despite the council's repeated admonishments to the boisterous crowd to be quiet, public speakers were frequently interrupted -- either with cheers of approval and applause or angry shouted disagreements.
"I expect everyone here to respect the rights of the person who's speaking, regardless of which side they're on," La Vallee said.
Calpine Project Developer Ken Abreu addressed the council before the public comment period was opened.
"We're simply asking if we want to look at this project," Abreu said. Shouts of "No!" erupted from the audience.
The majority of speakers voiced their opposition to the city entering into a contract with Calpine.
"I'm afraid and upset," said Eureka resident Barbara Clark. "This threat has been waking me up at 4 a.m. We cannot knowingly create potential harm for future generations. We don't tell our kids to do an independent study about drugs -- we tell them to just say no. Just say no!"
The fears raised by opponents of the project included safety, environmental and terrorist concerns, blight and the effect it would have on tourism, legal action Calpine could take against the city, the restriction of access to Humboldt Bay and corporate control of local resources. One Eureka resident, who said she was "horrified, outraged and appalled" by the proposed LNG project, threatened legal action against the city if the council decides in favor of the exclusive right to negotiate.
Still, others urged the city to go forward with the agreement on the basis that the county needs the jobs and revenue Calpine could provide.
"If we don't allow an independent study we will be doing a great injustice to future citizens," said Rex Bohn. "We need job opportunities. Maybe Calpine isn't right for this site, but we don't know this unless we do the study."
"This has nothing to do with whether the proposition is good or bad," said Leo Sears, speaking in favor of the agreement on behalf of the Humboldt Taxpayers League. "It's a matter of due process."
A Eureka member of Veterans for Peace told the council it should be considering a desirability study, rather than a feasibility study.
"You wouldn't have this many people here tonight if Calpine wasn't proposing a bad idea," said Arcata Mayor Bob Ornelas.
By Meghan Vogel
The Times-Standard
EUREKA -- The Eureka City Council has postponed its vote on an exclusive right to negotiate agreement with Calpine Corp. until all public speakers can be accommodated.
Another special meeting will be held Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. at the Eureka Municipal Auditorium. The council will hear public comment until 8 p.m. and then make its decision. When the council adjourned its meeting at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 107 public speakers were still scheduled to go before the council. Those speakers will be heard first at Thursday's meeting.
A total of 77 people spoke Tuesday, with 59 speaking against the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal, and 18 in favor of entering into a contract with the San Jose energy company.
Calpine is looking to build a $1 billion terminal to receive LNG from tankers and store it on the Samoa Peninsula. The natural gas would then be shipped by pipeline to the Central Valley.
The exclusive right to negotiate agreement would allow the city to reserve the property while Calpine presents its project to the community through an independent study. Opponents of the LNG project fear the agreement would allow Calpine to seek permitting from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, thus taking away control of the project at the local level.
It was a far cry from most city council meetings. Approximately 1,500 filled the auditorium when the meeting began at 6 p.m. Protesters stood on the steps of the auditorium waving signs, while another group in favor of the agreement passed out green stickers reading "Facts, fairness, vote yes." Police officers stood at the entrance of the auditorium.
"I've got the anxiety of running the meeting, but the council has the anxiety of making the decision," said Eureka Mayor Peter La Vallee before the meeting started.
At times the meeting threatened to turn into the free-for-all the mayor had feared. Before the public comment period on the LNG agreement was even opened, a speaker declared himself a write-in presidential candidate, shouted at the council and had to be escorted back to his seat by Eureka Police Chief Dave Douglas.
Despite the council's repeated admonishments to the boisterous crowd to be quiet, public speakers were frequently interrupted -- either with cheers of approval and applause or angry shouted disagreements.
"I expect everyone here to respect the rights of the person who's speaking, regardless of which side they're on," La Vallee said.
Calpine Project Developer Ken Abreu addressed the council before the public comment period was opened.
"We're simply asking if we want to look at this project," Abreu said. Shouts of "No!" erupted from the audience.
The majority of speakers voiced their opposition to the city entering into a contract with Calpine.
"I'm afraid and upset," said Eureka resident Barbara Clark. "This threat has been waking me up at 4 a.m. We cannot knowingly create potential harm for future generations. We don't tell our kids to do an independent study about drugs -- we tell them to just say no. Just say no!"
The fears raised by opponents of the project included safety, environmental and terrorist concerns, blight and the effect it would have on tourism, legal action Calpine could take against the city, the restriction of access to Humboldt Bay and corporate control of local resources. One Eureka resident, who said she was "horrified, outraged and appalled" by the proposed LNG project, threatened legal action against the city if the council decides in favor of the exclusive right to negotiate.
Still, others urged the city to go forward with the agreement on the basis that the county needs the jobs and revenue Calpine could provide.
"If we don't allow an independent study we will be doing a great injustice to future citizens," said Rex Bohn. "We need job opportunities. Maybe Calpine isn't right for this site, but we don't know this unless we do the study."
"This has nothing to do with whether the proposition is good or bad," said Leo Sears, speaking in favor of the agreement on behalf of the Humboldt Taxpayers League. "It's a matter of due process."
A Eureka member of Veterans for Peace told the council it should be considering a desirability study, rather than a feasibility study.
"You wouldn't have this many people here tonight if Calpine wasn't proposing a bad idea," said Arcata Mayor Bob Ornelas.
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