A federal agency has given tentative approval to a controversial pipeline that would move natural gas from the Bahamas to South Florida.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday approved the concept but now must hear the environmental issues raised by AES Corp.’s plans to construct a 95-mile pipeline to supply natural gas to the state’s power plants.
The pipeline would run from Ocean Cay, an island south of Bimini, to Dania Beach and pass through coral reefs, the habitat of manatees, sea turtles and other endangered species. Opponents have long argued the pipeline would pose a threat to coral reefs and that parks on land along the route would be dug up. They vowed to fight the plans.
“We will certainly weigh in and tell them the impacts are far too great for the alleged benefits,” said Brenda Chalifour, attorney for Save Our Shoreline. “It’s great for FERC to suggest there’s a need but no one can prove that. It has very little benefit for this community. And you’re going to destroy some unbelievable and international treasures also known as our coral reefs? Not on my watch. Unacceptable.”
The AES project was granted a preliminary approval since the commission “voted in principle there is a need for the project,” but must study the potential impacts on water, air quality, neighborhoods, geological issues and “the whole gamut,” said Tamara Young-Allen, spokeswoman for the commission.
Aaron Samson, the AES project director, said the company still must pass at least a dozen hurdles.
“It’s an exciting day for us, that’s for sure,” he said. “This is the first big step. There’s a considerable amount of growth in Florida, and this is one step to satisfying it.”
Other companies are trying to build pipelines from the Bahamas to South Florida to serve the state’s growing demand for power. One of them, Tractebel North America Inc., also received procedural approval from the commission, which agreed to submit letters to the U.S. secretary of defense and the U.S. secretary of state asking for presidential approval of the project.
In both projects, ships would bring liquefied natural gas to the Bahamas, where it would be converted back to a gaseous form and shot through the pipelines to Port Everglades.
Tractebel spokesman Jim Ebeling said the gas would be used for power throughout the state, mostly for utility companies and industrial use.
“There’s a whole series of steps, and this is one of the first steps,” he said. “We’re happy to see the process starting.”
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
