Editor’s note: Interspersed in the following opinion piece are readers’ comments countering McGinnis’s assertion that his liquefied natural gas project wouldn’t pose a threat to coastal communities.

Recently,
a new energy project that will bring needed clean natural gas to South
Florida has been the target of sensationalist attacks that do a
disservice to those who care about clean energy, the environment and
the future of our natural resources.

The proposed Calypso
Deepwater Port, which will consist of an underwater marine offloading
buoy and anchoring system located in federal waters approximately eight
to 10 miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, is an environmentally friendly solution to help meet Florida’s growing energy needs.

Some
have suggested that the Calypso project might pose a danger to the
safety of local residents. Nothing could be further from the truth. The
misinformation and scare tactics of a small group of project opponents
should not be allowed to overcome the facts, and the fact is, the
proposed project is tested, safe and offers great promise that will
benefit all of South Florida.

Reader Comment: A quick google search reveals that Mr. McGinnis didn’t tell the truth
when speaking of LNG’s safety record. It reminds me that “It is
difficult to get a man to understand something, when his job depends on
his not understanding it.” Upton Sinclair

Here are the results of that quick google search:

LNG Danger To Our Communities – TimRileyLaw.com
Tim Riley warns about LNG vulnerability to accident, earthquakes and
LNG ….. It was the worst LNG accident since 1975 when about 40 people
died in an …timrileylaw.com/LNG.htm – 177k – Cached – Similar pages

Scientists
say LNG review is missing critical studies LNG accident scenarios
produced by the Coast Guard,… Cornwell said that his prediction that
an LNG tanker accident would result in a small,…www.wildcalifornia.org/pages/page-114 – 22k – Cached – Similar pages

KPLC
7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |UPDATE: Trunkline LNG …Apr 21, 2008
… We have an update on the conditions of the four contract workers
injured yesterday in an industrial accident at Trunkline LNG….www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp… – 54k – Cached – Similar pages

LNG:
The Next Battle Line The LNG industry touts the “safeness” of LNG but
defines an LNG “accident” in the narrowest of terms: the ignition of a
massive quantify of stored LNG….www.greenparty.org/LNG.html – 13k – Cached – Similar pages

LNG
Danger.com The report determined 70000 casualties could result from an
offshore LNG tanker accident, but none of the risk assessments even
considered acts of sabotage …lngdanger.com/ – 48k – Cached – Similar pages

BPPWG
Documents DOE LNG accident impact presentation, February 2002; Results
of LNG tanker and storage tank accident modeling, October 2001, Quest
Consultants for DOE …www.borderpowerplants.org/news_and_events.htm – 29k – Cached – Similar pages

 

While
emotional responses are normal, a review of the facts shows LNG and the
deepwater port are safe. The Calypso project will bring liquefied
natural gas to Florida via an already constructed pipeline that is
miles out at sea.

Reader Comment: Wow, this letter has all the veracity of a Naoooo problema, dudes!,
exclamation from the next corporate interest that wants us to ignore
the catastrophe awaiting us from importing more foreign energy, both
financial, environmental, and in real terms from a hurricane destroying
these facilities. Wake up America, we can no longer support economic
growth and progress by burning fossil fues, in fact, we are threatening
our future survival as the human species with this madness. Demand a
green economy revolution or suffer the disastrous consequences!

Independent studies by the U.S. Coast Guard
show that any potential risk posed by the deepwater port, however
improbable, could not come anywhere close or have any effect on
populations on the coast.

Reader Comment: And what did
they tell the residents of Cleveland Ohio after they lost a square mile
of their city to an LNG
explosion??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_East_O…

P.S..
That was just a tiny LNG leak and explosion.. 9,400 gallons.. A modern
LNG tanker carries over 33 million gallons!!!

In addition, the LNG shipping
industry has an unparalleled safety record. In LNG’s 45-plus year
shipping history, there has never been a major incident or breach of a
cargo tank from an LNG ship.

Gas prices continue to soar, and
utilities are moving away from coal and oil and towards natural
gas-fired power plants, because Floridians, under Gov. Charlie Crist’s
leadership, are rightfully demanding protection of precious natural
resources. Natural gas is the cleanest, most environmentally friendly
of all fossil fuels, with carbon emissions 50 percent less than coal,
and 30 percent to 40 percent less than oil. A new supply of natural gas
is needed to meet growing energy demands efficiently.

Currently,
the state relies 100 percent on Gulf Coast sources for natural gas.
Calypso would help prevent the type of gas shortage as witnessed during
the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. This diversification and
much-needed new source of natural gas will also help prices and energy
supply without sacrificing the region’s beautiful ocean views and
precious marine life, or posing any danger to coastal communities.

Some resident have expressed concern about the project’s impact on their shoreline views.

The
Calypso Deepwater Port location was chosen for a number of safety,
environmental and logistical reasons, and was determined with input
from many stakeholders and regulatory agencies. And while more than
6,000 ships and tankers call at Port Everglades
annually, coming within hundreds of feet of the view of local
residents, the Calypso Port and all ships would remain miles away.

A
recent poll shows that 72 percent of voters support moving forward on
projects that would provide Florida with more energy at less cost.
Three of every four persons polled, citing concerns for a secure energy
future, wanted to see completion of the proposed deep water port slated
for 10 miles offshore Fort Lauderdale.

We need energy to power
our homes and businesses, and our supply is running out. If we allow
the minority to drown out the voices of the overwhelming majority of
Floridians who want a secure energy future and a clean, safe and
reliable fuel supply, we will all be left in the dark.

Dan McGinnis is project manager of Calypso LNG Deepwater Port.

Learn more Find out more facts about this project at www. Calypso dwp.com