Opposition builds for the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals off the coast of New York/New Jersey. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders defended the Jersey shore by passing unanimously and across party lines, a resolution in opposition to the three facilities at their Oct. 22 meeting.

The resolution opposes three separate terminals, proposed by Liberty Natural Gas, Atlantic Sea Island Group and Exxon, to import foreign natural gas to the U.S. from overseas. Unlike oil, the U.S. is energy independent for natural gas and the Obama administration estimates at least 70 years' worth of reserves are left. Industry groups estimate over 100 years' worth of natural gas. Proposed sources of LNG include Russia, Libya and the Middle East. Delivering LNG is energy intensive and its life cycle greenhouse gas emissions are closer to coal than American natural gas. Not to mention, the LNG facilities will devastate important fish habitat, impact endangered and threatened species, damage seafloor habitat and create navigational hazards. Even if foreign natural gas was needed, existing LNG import terminals, which supply the pipelines serving the N.Y./N.J. region, ran at 10 percent capacity last year given the high cost of foreign LNG as compared to domestic natural gas.

The governors of New Jersey and New York and the Obama administration have veto power over these proposals. The governors of Florida, California and Connecticut have vetoed these or similar proposals. With the passage of the resolution by the Monmouth County Freeholders, we send a clear message to those parties that we do not want LNG off our shores. I strongly commend the freeholders for their action and hope that other elected officials will follow suit. Many other municipalities and organizations have signed on to Clean Ocean Action's resolution in opposition to the LNG terminals. To see the complete list and find more information about this issue and how you as an individual or organization may take action please visit www.cleanoceanaction.org.
Kathleen Gasienica
Red Bank