Maine's Board of Environmental Protection has agreed to take jurisdiction over yet another liquified natural gas terminal being proposed for Washington County.
The Board voted yesterday to hold a public hearing on the plan, proposed by Calais LNG. The company is proposing to build a terminal on a 337 acre site off Route 1 in Calais along the St. Croix River, according to documents iled with the board. Calais LNG is proposing to link the facility with the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline nearly 21 miles away.
The proposal is generating opposition from environmentalists. The Conservation Law Foundation says it's pleased that the BEP has agreed to take jurisdiction over the project and hold a public hearing.
"At a time when Maine should be focused on realistic solutions to its energy and economic challenges, this proposed project is neither realistic, nor a solution," says CLF vice president Sean Mahoney, who directs the group's Maine Advocacy Center. "Given the current glut of natural gas, the projected significant increase in domestic sources of natural gas and the projected lack of any increased demand for gas from current levels, moving forward with the project is a waste of resources and provides false hope for a part of Maine that is in desperate need for real solutions."
The Board of Environmental Protection can vote to take jurisdiction over such proposals if they're deemed to generate "substantial public interest." For more information on the Calais LNG proposal, click here.