I have a longtime interest in LNG. I was attending junior high school in Cleveland on Friday, Oct. 20, 1944, when the East Ohio Gas Company LNG incident occurred. I vividly remember seeing the flames and smoke over the city and photos of the extensive damage and the eye witness accounts in the newspaper on the following days. Based on my judgment, because the 1944 incident was land based, it has negligible application to the Cabrillo Project.
At a Cabrillo Port Project hearing in 2004, I expressed concern about predictions for public safety for a vapor cloud from a large LNG spill at the FSRU due to gas concentration high enough on reaching shore to asphyxiate onshore people and a vapor cloud igniting on reaching shore resulting in massive explosion and/or fire.
My main point was that there were no computer model predictions based on empirical tests. I have reviewed the current DEIR in regards to modeling of the vapor cloud and have concluded that the modeling is anchored by empirical tests and the predictions are conservative. The worst case cloud poses no danger to shore based public. I am no longer concerned about my safety. I am in favor of this project.
I am concerned about global warming. It may not be real, as some claim, but we cannot take any chances and must strive to reduce greenhouse gasses. Barring any significant lifestyle changes by the California public we will need the energy that this project provides. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fuel that is readily available. It will help bridge the gap until we can build a significant nuclear power capacity to replace fossil fuels. Many in the audience favor hydrogen for powering our autos.
Currently the majority of the hydrogen produced is from natural gas. In the distant future the hydrogen would ideally be produced using nuclear power. It should be noted that hydrogen fuel in autos, because of its flammability and explosive characteristics, poses a significantly greater risk to public safety than the Cabrillo Port Project.
Regarding California lifestyle, I note that a large number of the vehicles in the parking lot at this hearing are gas guzzling SUVs.
Geoffrey H.L. Hunter