But despite its massive implications, critical decisions about our state’s need for LNG and even where the terminals could go are being made in backroom deals by lawmakers under intense pressure from Big Energy lobbyists.

Senate Bill (SB) 426, "Informed Choices on LNG," would help solve this, and needs your support today. Please write your state senator and assembly member to urge them to vote for clean energy and a more transparent process for this critical issue!

LNG is natural gas that is super-cooled to a highly condensed form so that it can fit on tankers for transport across the ocean. LNG for California would likely come from the Russian Far East, Indonesia, the Amazon rainforest and Australian coral reefs. There are four proposals for LNG terminals in California and at least seven more in Mexico and Oregon that would potentially serve the California market.

LNG is a fossil fuel that contributes to global warming, threatens the environment and wildlife of our oceans and coastlines, and puts public safety at risk. Importing LNG would deepen our state's dependence on foreign fossil fuels at a time when it is imperative that we switch to renewable, carbon-free energy sources. And it would likely increase the cost of utility bills for California ratepayers.

Incredibly, there has been no statewide analysis of the need for LNG or how many terminals should be built, if any. There has been no examination by the state of how importing LNG would impact its laudable renewable energy and energy efficiency goals. Moreover, there is no process underway to evaluate the safety and environmental concerns of the LNG projects currently proposed for the state.

Senate Bill (SB) 426, "Informed Choices on LNG" (authored by Senator Joe Simitian and Assembly Member Fran Pavley), requires a coherent approach for determining the state's future energy needs and a structure for evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of proposed LNG terminals. These proposals have enormous consequences for all citizens in California, and this bill recognizes that it is unwise to allow a few politicians and Big Energy lobbyists to decide if these dangerous terminals should be located in our state.

Please send a message to your state representatives and ask them to pass SB 426 before this legislative session ends on August 31!