LNG LONG GONE

If energy companies wondered about the prospects of building facilities in Maine, their questions were answered this week. With a vote in the Washington County town of Perry, communities up and down the coast have rejected terminals for the delivery of liquefied natural gas. Absent changes in federal law that make it easier for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to override local opposition when siting such facilities, the companies should look elsewhere.

State and federal officials have promoted LNG development as a way to boost the nation’s supply of natural gas, an alternative to oil, much of which comes from the Middle East. Because of its high energy demands and pipeline capacity, New England has been a focus of LNG expansion plans.

Although there is likely to be further discussion about the Perry vote, especially because residents had to vote “no” to support the project and “yes” to oppose it, Monday’s ballot basically seals the fate of LNG in Maine. The company behind the plan, Quoddy Bay LLC, and Gov. John Baldacci have long said such a facility should only go where it is wanted. So far, LNG is not wanted in Maine.

Last year, voters in Harpswell rejected a plan to build a terminal there. Talk of terminals on Sears Island and in Corea immediately galvanized opposition and the plans were quickly dropped. Then the Passamaquoddy Tribe announced it had entered into an agreement with Quoddy Bay, based in Oklahoma, to build an LNG facility on its land near Eastport.

This summer, tribal members approved the project in a vote that split the reservation. Supporters of the project touted the jobs and economic benefits it would bring. Opponents warned of the dangers of LNG and the environmental degradation that the project would entail.

When the tribe annexed the land where the terminal was to be built on Gleason Cove, it signed an agreement giving the residents of the town of Perry power to approve or reject commercial development on the parcel, hence this week’s vote. Despite a pledge from Quoddy Bay of $1 million a year – enough to cover the town’s entire tax collection – Perry residents rejected the project by a vote of 279-214.

Meanwhile, other LNG projects are moving forward north and south of Maine. Proposals for LNG terminals in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec have gotten preliminary government approvals. There are also competing plans for new facilities in Massachusetts.

After Monday’s vote, LNG opponents said they were prepared to make “wonderful things possible” for the area. A good first step would be to work with the Passamaquoddy Tribe to seek economic development opportunities that will benefit the tribe and the region.