An Explosive Debate Over Natural Gas
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has expressed a preference for a liquefied natural gas terminal offshore from Oxnard over other sites, including Long Beach, igniting a furor along the Southern California coast as some local officials and residents praise the safety of an offshore site while others decry his comments as premature and irresponsible.
The governor expressed his "personal preference" for a proposed BHP Billiton terminal 14 miles offshore from Oxnard. An onshore site in the Port of Long Beach and two other offshore sites along the California coast are also being considered for importing highly chilled natural gas from overseas.
The governor said more study was needed before a final decision was made.
Still, his comments Thursday highlighted an escalating debate in the state as to whether LNG terminals pose too many safety and security concerns to be located onshore in populated areas.
Project opponents in Ventura County fear the governor's remarks could give the Oxnard project the edge.
"I've taken the opinion from the beginning that, unless proven otherwise, I am strongly opposed to this project. And nothing the governor said has changed that," Oxnard Mayor Tom Holden said Friday.
In nearby Malibu, where many residents dislike the prospect of any offshore energy facility, Mayor Andy Stern also expressed concern about the governor's comments.
"I'm very disappointed he would make up his mind before the process is completed," Stern said. "I'd like the governor to retract his statement and say he has an open mind until all the facts are in."
Of four possible locations, the two getting the most serious attention are the Oxnard proposal from Australia-based BHP and the Long Beach plan by a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Corp.
Some critics of the proposed Long Beach terminal two miles from the city's downtown say they are heartened by the governor's preference for an offshore site.
"Having an area offshore is significantly different than putting thousands or hundreds of thousands of people at risk," said Long Beach Councilman Frank Colonna, who opposes the Mitsubishi terminal. "Not that we're opposed to the value of LNG, but let's keep it away from the people."
In Sacramento a bill sponsored by state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) would develop a system for weighing the merits and drawbacks of each terminal proposal.
- Australian Leader Pitches Liquefied Gas Imports to Schwarzenegger Jun 03, 2004
- Oxnard residents oppose plan for 3rd power plant Jan 27, 2007
- Keep Oxnard clean Apr 08, 2007
