No Broadwater!

by: ctblogger

Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 12:49:49 PM EDT

The U.S. Department of Commerce has rejected Broadwater Energy's proposed liquid natural gas terminal in the Long Island Sound.

The decision backs Gov. David Paterson, who last year turned down the LNG, a joint venture of TransCanada and Shell.

The energy companies tried to drum up local support in recent weeks by visiting leaders in Connecticut and Long Island, but apparently to no avail.

"In this modern day David and Goliath battle, there were thousands and thousands of David's, who fought the corporate Goliath of our times-Shell Oil, and won," stated Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, "When the public speaks with one voice, its more powerful than corporate millions."

The Anti Broadwater Campaign (ABC) began in early 2005, with environmental, civic, community, fishing and boating organizations from New York and Connecticut.  This began one of the largest, most far reaching grassroots efforts in NY and CT history.  The public sent over 60,000 hand-written letters to federal, state and local leaders. 100,000 members of the public signed petitions in opposition and thousands turned out at public hearings and anti Broadwater rallies.

In April 2008, Governor Paterson announced that New York State would NOT support Broadwater and found the project inconsistent with the current uses of Long Island Sound as defined in the Coastal Zone Management Act.  Broadwater Energy appealed to the federal government to overturn NY's decision.  Today, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced that he is upholding NY's ruling.

"This victory is for state's rights.  It's a victory for the protection of Long Island Sound, and most importantly, it's a victory for the public.  Even if Shell Oil continues the battle in court, it will be tied up for years to come. This chapter has closed, and the public is clearly left with the critical message that we can win and our voices matter. A unified public can take on Big Business and Big Money and win. It's exhilarating to know that democracy is alive and well in America," added Esposito.

UPDATE: Statements from lawmakers are below the fold

"The Commerce Department's denial of this unjustified appeal is a decisive victory in the fight to prevent the desecration and industrialization of the Long Island Sound. The states of  New York and Connecticut have stood united in their opposition to Broadwater, for the obvious reason that it would seriously endanger one of our most sensitive and valuable ecosystems and fisheries in Long Island Sound.  Our steadfastness has paid off and I think we can finally and officially say that this monstrosity of a project is dead and gone forever.

Broadwater should never be built; it is the wrong plan, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. The idea of a floating LNG terminal in Long Island Sound poses grave ecological, economic and security threats for more than 10 million people in Connecticut and New York. I want to thank the sensible review undertaken by the Obama Administration and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.  It is also important to thank members of Congress, legislators, environmental advocates and concerned citizens from across Connecticut and New York who continue to stand up to big oil's plan to industrialize our greatest shared natural resource."

Here's a copy of U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke's denial report.