Media release - September 7, 2004
California state policymakers and legislators traveled with Greenpeace to the proposed site of ChevronTexaco's liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities on the Coronado Islands. Located off the Baja California Coast of Mexico, the islands are an important habitat for wildlife and home to one of the most diverse seabird colonies, gray whales and harbor seals. All face devastation from the construction of a LNG terminal.
The Greenpeace ship, the Arctic Sunrise, and a research
vessel set off from Ensenada, Mexico and San Diego this morning
with the Mexican and U.S. delegations to survey the islands. U.S.
State officials discussed the issues and concerns with expert
naturalists and engineers onboard.
"The LNG facilities pose severe environmental and safety risks,"
said John Coequyt, Greenpeace Energy Specialist. "Mexico's coastal
treasures should not be sacrificed for California's energy
consumption. The truth is California does not need LNG.
ChevronTexaco should invest in clean energy like wind and
solar."
This tour coincides with the release of the new report produced
by Greenpeace, "Liquid Natural Gas: A Roadblock to a Clean Energy
Future." The report provides the first comprehensive analysis of
why LNG is unsafe, unnecessary and unjust. Greenpeace is asking
California policy makers to refuse to commit the state to long-term
LNG contracts from either Mexico or California. In addition, it
recommends that multinational companies and the Governments of
California and Mexico invest in clean energy technologies, like
wind and solar power, creating good jobs without risking the
public's health and safety.
"Mexico's renewable energy potential is being ignored as the
Mexican government rushes to embrace the wishes of multinational
companies like ChevronTexaco and Sempra," said Arturo Moreno,
Greenpeace Campaigner in Mexico.
State officials on the tour included: Commissioner of Calif.
Public Utilities Loretta Lynch, California EPA's Drew Bohan, State
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-36), California Energy Commissioner
Jim Boyd and others.
"We are at a crossroads in determining the fate of California's
energy future," said Commissioner Lynch. "The responsibility of the
California Public Utilities Communication is to get the facts
straight before putting ratepayers on the hook for ecologically
unsound and possibly unnecessary LNG."
Read the Greenpeace report, "Liquid Natural
Gas: A roadblock to a clean energy future."