County Executive James T. Smith, Jr. 400 Washington Avenue Old Courthouse Mezzanine Towson, MD 21204 410-887-2450 email: jimsmith@co.ba.md.us www.baltimorecountymd.gov We Will Fight AES’s Attempt to Place a LNG Plant in Sparrows Point   The recent decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to permit a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Sparrows Point/Turner Station is extremely disappointing, but please rest assured that as Baltimore County Executive I will continue to stand with residents in eastern Baltimore County and the Baltimore region to fight this operation.   AES's misguided claims suggest that the plant will help reduce energy costs for Marylanders. This is simply untrue.  The Sparrows Point plant is but one part of the AES company's proposal. What they do not mention is that the 87-mile pipeline that will require the condemnation of numerous properties by AES before carrying the gas into Pennsylvania for distribution to the mid-Atlantic and New England markets will do nothing to address Maryland's energy needs.  At the larger scale is the unmentioned, disturbing fact that the rush by energy companies to build almost 20 LNG plants in the U.S. will move this country to even greater energy dependence on more and more foreign sources.  The U.S. now imports about five percent of its natural gas from foreign companies. If all the proposed LNG facilities under review by the federal government are approved, that dependence will increase to 20 percent!  This shortsighted policy will make this country and its citizens beholden to countries that can use yet another energy source to manipulate our economy and pocketbooks. The company's claim that the transportation of LNG into the Chesapeake Bay can be done safely is belied by the requirements for constant security by the already overburdened Coast Guard. What other energy product or cargo is there that is moved over our waterways, highways and through our communities with Coast Guard escorts, gun boats and mandated clearance zones stopping maritime commerce? As these ships move into the heart of the Chesapeake Bay and Baltimore's harbor all shipping must stop, and recreational boaters must be held at specified distances while this volatile cargo is transported. Throughout the journey and whenever in port, LNG ships must be protected by gunboats. This sounds like anything but safe transport to me. While the purported safety “precautions” may be reassuring to AES and FERC, they have not satisfied the Coast Guard and will not satisfy the people of Baltimore County and across the region. AES tries to reassure us of the safety controls by stating, “At all times during transit and once at the facility site the LNG will be no closer than one mile from populated areas.” What about boaters and watermen or travelers on the Bay Bridges? What about other ships in the bay?  What about the workers at the LNG facility? What about the 2,500 workers at the Sparrows Point steel plant? A mile away? Does this mean no new businesses or land uses will be able to locate on the Sparrows Point peninsula? Does that mean approval of the LNG plant has thwarted redevelopment for green businesses and new steel facilities? The fact is that if a terrorist attack or malfunction occurs at any given point of transport or processing thousands will be at risk and have few options for safe escape. AES also claims, “In its liquid state, it cannot explode and does not burn.”  Once again the company fails to tell the whole story.  The off-loading and conversion process that will occur at Sparrows Point is a potentially dangerous and volatile operation. Accidents or terrorist attacks which cause a leak can allow the extremely cold LNG to form “clouds” of vapor which are, in fact, subject to fire and explosion.  These explosions can create a “burn zone,” which would subject property and people to flash burns and may extend up to one and one-half miles from the source.  In a recent GAO report the experts could not agree on the extent of the “burn zone” that would protect citizens.  The questions regarding the location of an LNG plant near a residential community are quite simple and straightforward. Are we willing to risk the safety of thousands of our citizens, the disruption of building 87 miles of pipeline through our forests, streams, next to our highways, homes and schools?  Are we willing to gamble that these floating time bombs will go unnoticed by terrorists eyeing new targets? Are we willing to rely on FERC in Washington to have the safety and best interests of our people guiding their decision making process?  I believe the answer to all of those questions is a resounding no! We are not willing to “roll the dice” on the safety of our citizens, our communities and the national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay.