LNG and the hypocrisy of Sen. Wyden
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) made headlines this week by decrying the export of LNG from Alaska to Japan and complaining about the high price of natural gas.
It’s pretty outrageous to scare Americans about energy shortages while she has been approving export of billions of cubic feet of natural gas that could be providing energy to homes in Alaska and the lower 48 states,” Wyden said.
But, according to Oregonian:
Alaskan officials - as well as the U.S. Department of Energy, which approved the exports - say there is no readily available domestic alternative to handle the Alaskan natural gas.
Moreover, Wyden and other Left Coast liberals, have done everything they can to stonewall LNG terminals proposed for the West Coast, including three proposed terminals right here in Oregon. There are currently no LNG terminals on the U.S. West Coast.
According to the state of Alaska:
Alaska’s exports of LNG from the Kenai Peninsula facility were $161 million for 2006. The LNG loading facility in Nikiski and the regasification facility in Negishi, Japan pioneered LNG marine transport in 1969. Alaska LNG export to Japan has been continuous since then. The current LNG contract is for five years — 2004 through the first quarter of 2009.
Alaska is producing American made energy. How can we blame them if Oregon refuses to build a LNG terminal to tap in on their surplus gas?
Senator Wyden, how can we import Alaskan natural gas if according to both Alaskan officials and the U.S. Department of Energy we do not have the capability? And…when we attempt to build LNG terminals which would give us that capability…you oppose the terminals?
Pure hypocrisy.
