Local Leaders Meet to Discuss LNG Industrializations Concerns

A Los Fresnos meeting was held on Monday July 27th at the Community Center.

The purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness about proposed LNG industrialization at the Port of Brownsville and to inform the public that their voice and input is important as it is a part of the approval process for the construction of the facilites.

The host and organizer, Los Fresnos resident Patrick Anderson, gave a brief powerpoint introduction on liquefied natural gas (LNG) detailing what it is, how it is made, and why it is made. In addition, information was given to the public on who and how to voice their comments, concerns, approval/disapproval to the county commissioners and to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) via writing a letter to FERC and attending the scoping meetings. The introduction concluded with talking points of the conversation that has been taking place in the RGV with weighing the pros and cons to the LNG Industry in the RGV.

Pros: (If all three companies were to be approved and built)

• Approximately 400 permanent jobs (may or may not be locally hired)
• Approximately 7,000 construction jobs

Cons:

• Limited economic benefit (tax abatements, few permanent jobs)
• Gas Extraction via fracking
• Pipelines running from Eagle Ford Shale and Corpus Christi to the Port
• Air Pollution
• Public Health
• Public Safety
• Habitat Loss and destruction of wetlands
• Dredging
• Effect on restoration and habitat efforts that have been funded by tax dollars and private donations.
• Higher foreign price for natural gas not guaranteed in the future
• Decline in eco and recreational tourism
• Impacts on marine life and fishing industry
• View scape
• Proximatey to Space X

The presentation was turned over to presenters Eduardo Campirano and Dr. William Berg to discuss the talking points of LNG in the RGV and the benefits vs. risk.

Eduardo Campirano, Port Director and CEO, gave background information on the Port of Brownsville including history, businesses currently in operation, economic contribution both regionally and statewide, current projects including the widening of the ship channel and proposals from Annova LNG, Texas LNG, and Next Decade LNG. Details included that the LNG facilities will process natural gas into a liquid 100% of which will be exported to foreign markets. Additionally, details regarding the LNG facilities included the location of the facilities, number of acres for each facility, benefits of LNG in the RGV, and the operations and logistics regarding LNG at the Port.

Mr. Campirano took questions from the public which ranged from placement of dredging material when the ship channel will be widened, why the companies are looking at the RGV, how LNG facilities may effect the use of the ship channel, and exploring the idea of getting the LNG companies to front the cost of widening the ship channel.

Dr. William Berg presented a slide show to discuss some of the risks and concerns posed with having LNG facilities in the RGV.

Information included development of sensitive ecosystems, pollution, public health regarding air pollution, examples of accidents that have occurred at LNG facilities, hazard zones of facilities and ships, impact on tourism, view scape, and a recently made map of the Space X clear zone for launching that overlaps with Annova LNG’s proposed location.

Dr. Wiliam Berg encouraged the public to contact the County Commissioners to steer the county away from providing 10 year tax abatements that Annova is asking for (Texas LNG and Next Decade will likely follow suit) and also encouraged the public to attend the only chance for public input at the FERC scoping meeting August 11th.

Public input, comments, approvals, disapprovals will be taken vocally and recorded at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission scoping meetings on Tuesday August 11th 1:00-8:00pm at the Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center.