March 28, 2024
Letter

Site-specific LNG study

There was only one economic impact study done on the liquefied natural gas facility proposed in Harpswell and that was commissioned by citizens of the town and performed by Yellow Wood Associates of St. Albans, Vt. The expensive study revealed a net economic loss to the community due to negative impacts on property values, fishing and tourism and direct costs related to security and fire protection. Though the 80-page report was site specific, many of the same issues are at play in the Quoddy LNG proposal.

The computer simulation performed by the Maine State Planning Office was done at the request of ConocoPhillips and TransCanada Pipeline in an attempt to discredit the Yellow Wood report.

The model was run with unverified input data provided by the project developer. The model does not factor in negative impacts unless included up front. It wasn’t.

The SPO’s Regional Simulation Output Model is a useful planning tool when examining the economic ripple effects of a proposed store, traditional manufacturing plant, or other business with normal links to the greater economy of Maine. An LNG import terminal is quite different both in its construction phase and during operation.

There are few economic links to other Maine businesses. Ships come in and gas is piped out. Due to this lack of relevance, its role in the local economic picture would be minimal.

Quoddy LNG should cease crowing about its ripple effects until a site-specific study is done that factors in both the positive and negative impacts of building and operating their facility.

Cliff Goudey

Bailey Island


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