Although we live in Oxnard where the BHP Billiton re-gasification plant will be producing 500 tons of air pollution a year, we’re more concerned about our land in the Santa Monica Mountains. Despite the EPA’s stated belief that our prevailing wind is from East to West, it’s predominant direction will be out of the West toward Malibu. Air and water pollution, terrorist attraction and Billiton’s shoddy environmental history are all known drawbacks. However, not much is being said about the total pollution added to our world by producing and transporting Australian natural gas 15,800 nautical miles (each roundtrip). In addition, approving this project will cause the building of 11 new, mammoth ships, a new offshore factory and pipelines. Plus, there is no production facility now in the Billiton/ Exxon/Mobil field in Western Australia so that, too, will take enormous energy to create.
Why do this? Our governor and legislature have promised us renewable energies. Instead of paying for (as importers) the billions of outdated infrastructure Billiton is trying to force upon us, why not aggressively invest in wind, geothermal, wave and sun resources? Billiton’s plan is outdated because we know what fossil fuels are doing to our planet, and we also know we have the time to develop different power sources.
Please be involved in keeping this great LNG menace from our coastline.
Lora Lowe, Oxnard