It has long been understood, for as long as we remember, and is written in the Passamaquoddy tribal constitution, that men and women are a collective body. As a collective body, the Sipayik members voted to support liquefied natural gas as an economic development prospect for Pleasant Point. The majority of Sipayik members agree that LNG represents a wonderful opportunity not only for the Passamaquoddy people, but also for Washington County.

We are concerned, as Vera Francis is (“Native concerns about LNG, Quoddy Bay LLC,” BDN, Jan. 24), about “our safety, our souls and our land,” but we are also concerned about our economy. That’s why we have been researching and learning about LNG. Before we make judgments we need to find out truths. No opportunity is without risk. LNG does pose some risks, but they are far outweighed by the benefits.

Here is what we know: We know that LNG is as safe as the Irving station on the corner of Washington and County roads. We know that if people are worried about an LNG import terminal in Gleason Cove, why are they not worried about the propane trucks that pass us by on a daily basis? We know that LNG import terminals in the United States have a near-perfect safety record, as do the vessels that carry LNG. The benefits brought by this terminal far surpass any of the associated risks, just as the benefits of having a local gasoline station outweigh the risks there.

Vera Francis states that her biggest concern about LNG “is that we don’t really know what the spiritual and cultural impacts will be for Passamaquoddy membership.” But what will the impact be without it? The tribe has struggled for decades in search of new business ventures. What does the LNG opposition have planned for economic development?

Because we are not being asked to pay for anything in advance, we are risking nothing for the possibility of an enormous economic benefit. And we are not just referring to the tribe but all of Washington County, which would also benefit immensely. With the investment of a little bit of time and a little bit of effort, we can all reap the rewards of this development.

Vera Francis suggests investors, like Quoddy Bay, should just give the money being raised for LNG to the tribes. Our concern is that it will be like the Land Claims Settlement, a one-time offering. The tribe needs sustainability, a profitable business endeavor that will provide jobs and dollars every year. Economic equity and environmental justice cannot exist in a single monetary offering. Now it costs the tribe money to sustain our environment and keep our waters safe and clean. Quoddy Bay will be monitoring and sustaining the environment as a component of this project.

The facility will provide hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars during construction, and then many high-paying jobs and millions of dollars in lease payments when it becomes operational. The nearby communities will realize the greatest benefit, as the money invested into the economy will be spent here. We will all benefit from lower energy costs, and the low cost of natural gas associated with the terminal might give rise to cogeneration plants in other parts of the county. These possible cogeneration plants would lower our electric bills while helping local industries such as paper production.

This is an opportunity we cannot pass up. It is an opportunity for us to take advantage of a situation that would reduce the tribe’s dependency on government grants and thereby increase our sovereignty, while simultaneously benefiting the communities that surround us.

It is important that we inform the public about the benefits and costs of having an LNG import terminal on our land and that’s why Pleasant Point and Quoddy Bay have asked Savvy Inc. to disseminate information about the project as it progresses and about LNG in general. Our tribal leadership agreed to hire Savvy, according to Chief Melvin Francis, “based on their expertise in the LNG industry, their reputation throughout Maine, their broad experience, and their quality of work.” We look forward to continuing our education on the benefits and the risks associated with LNG, and we hope others will join us, as a collective body, in this search for truth.

Linda Lingley of Eastport is a Sipayik member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Her daughter, Kristen Lingley, is also a Passamaquoddy tribal member and a student at Dartmouth College.