Clean Energy Coalition Applauds Bursting of LNG Bubble

San Francisco, CA – New energy projections from Federal and California agencies show the LNG speculative bubble is over, according to a West Coast-wide coalition of organizations opposing dependence on foreign Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

The coalition, Ratepayers for Affordable Clean Energy (RACE), is responding to two new government reports.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas imports will decline rapidly from 16 percent today to only 3 percent in 2030. The difference will be made up in increased domestic natural gas production. According to a staff presentation from the California Public Utilities and Energy Commissions, California’s natural gas demand will remain flat until 2030, while the one LNG import terminal serving California, located in Mexico, will not receive “significant deliveries.”

"These projections make clear that the West Coast does not need LNG,” said Rory Cox, California Program Director at Pacific Environment and coordinator for RACE. “LNG was an inappropriate choice to begin with, and it remains so. We’re ready to put this debate behind us, and join the new Administration in building a truly clean and sustainable energy future.”

“What a difference a year makes,” said Dan Serres, conservation director at Columbia Riverkeeper.  “These new projections are a game changer. LNG is now off the table as a wise investment choice. The current LNG proposals are now just moving forward under nothing but their own momentum.”

Since 2004, RACE has opposed LNG as it will increase California’s contribution to greenhouse gases, undercut development of clean energy, and endanger the health and safety of West Coast communities. The coalition has maintained that despite the media and investment hype, imported LNG has never been necessary on the West Coast of North America. The coalition’s conclusions were based on trends in the domestic natural gas industry, on steadily declining natural gas consumption in California since 2000, and on new laws and initiatives in California such as mandated energy efficiency programs, the renewable portfolio standard, and the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32). RACE has also pointed out that natural gas demand in Baja and the Pacific Northwest is quite small, making it clear that these regions were being used as “back doors” into California’s energy market.

The 2009 Annual Energy Outlook from the U.S. Department of Energy is here: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html

A copy of the presentation from the California Public Utilities and Energy Commissions detailing new projections for natural gas usage in California are available by request at rcox@pacificenvironment.org or dserres@gmail.com.

Contact:
Rory Cox, California Program Director, Pacific Environment. (510) 459-0933
Dan Serres, Columbia Riverkeeper, (503) 890-2441
Tom Ford, Executive Director, Santa Monica Baykeeper, (310) 738-6915
Jody McCaffree, Executive Director, Citizens Against LNG (Coos Bay), (541) 756-0759

More information about RACE: www.RaceForCleanEnergy.org