Thanks, But No Tanks Calpine

LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas. The energy corporation Calpine wants to ship in supercooled methane on 1,000-foot or longer tankers, store it in 150-foot-tall, 250-foot-wide tanks on the peninsula, then pump the gas through a 150-mile pipeline to the Central Valley gas main line. It is eyeing the old Simpson Paper Co. site or the Eureka Municipal Airport for the plant.

The benefits to the community would include the more than one hundred jobs that would be created to build the estimated $1 billion project though many of those jobs will likely go to outside contractors with the expertise needed for such a complicated project. Several dozen (we have heard it could be as many as 60) people would be employed permanently. Tax revenues from the facility would also likely be realized. And there would also be the purchase price of the property for the site.

Liquefied natural gas itself does not burn. When warmed -- and at the right concentration with air around it -- the natural gas does burn. It vaporizes quickly, especially on contact with water.

Experts that studied potential accidents at a once-proposed terminal off Vallejo found a 2-meter hole in a double-hulled tanker (penetrating one of five tanks carrying 33 million gallons of LNG total) would send a flammable vapor cloud across the bay into Eureka with a 5 mph wind. Such an accident could be the result of human error in the navigating, docking and offloading of the LNG. It could also be the result of an earthquake or terrorist attack on this vulnerable target.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology LNG expert James Fay wrote that the required hazard exclusion zones would not protect people from such low-risk, high-consequence accidents.

We have poured over a ton of information regarding characteristics of LNG and the transporting and storage of this hazardous material. On the surface it is difficult to argue the potential economic benefit (even though the long term benefit is questionable) to our communities. But if you dig a little deeper you have to ask what price can we possibly put on the resulting compromise to our safety, security and even future development on Humboldt Bay? LNG blast in Algeria resonates in Humboldt. Read about it HERE

MYTH: A "small vocal minority" of Calpine project opponents are spreading false information about the project.
LNGwatch says: Opponents of the project represent thousands of Eureka residents and are some of the only people who have done their homework. Calpine is afraid that if the true facts are known about their project, our residents will oppose it. It’s just not responsible to wait for the corporations to tell us what they want us to know about a project that would change Eureka and Humboldt Bay forever.

MYTH: The Feasibility Study will inform us about the Calpine LNG project.
LNGwatch says: Calpine will be paying for the Feasibility Study. They want exclusive access to the Municipal Airport property to do the study. Can we expect them to share anything but the information they want us to know? How will this benefit us? Do we need a study to tell us if this is wrong for Eureka?

MYTH: There’s no harm in doing a feasibility study – it’s not a done deal.
LNGwatch says: A vote for the feasibility study is a tacit endorsement of the LNG gas and power plant concept and a loss of local control over our economic future. Once Calpine gets the go-ahead from our City, the momentum will be difficult to stop.

MYTH: The safety risk of the LNG gas and power plants is acceptable. After all, what chance is there of terrorist attack, earthquake, human error or mechanical failure?
LNGwatch says: There is no acceptable risk to our community, or the health, safety and economic future of the thousands of us who live within the 2-4 mile danger radius of the proposed plant.

MYTH: This project is a good fit for Eureka.
LNGwatch says: LNG is not a good fit for Eureka or anywhere on Humboldt Bay. These plants need to be sited in remote areas (offshore), away from so many people. Both the California legislature and the U.S. Congress said so. Calpine wants to take advantage of the lack of current regulations on LNG plants. We need to tell them "no".

Energy corporations like Calpine are in the business of making money. These are huge corporations seeking a business opportunity. Calpine has set their sights on Eureka as the prime spot based on their needs, not ours.

It is time to say NO to Calpine. Let your voice be heard. Visit LNGwatch.com for the rest of the story.