Energy Representatives and Lawyers Assess Legality of Proposed Anti-LNG Measure
Posted on Jun 15, 2006 in Policy, Legislation and Politics, Regas Terminals & Capacity, State and Local Issues | Comments Off on Energy Representatives and Lawyers Assess Legality of Proposed Anti-LNG Measure
Energy industry analysts and attorneys are evaluating the merits of a county-level bill proposed on June 13 that attempts to halt the Broadwater LNG project. Bill Cooper, a spokesperson for the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, says that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 pre-empts local legislation, giving FERC exclusive jurisdiction over the terminal’s permitting process. “If it purports to block the permitting process from going forward, it’s unconstitutional,” Cooper said. However, Suffolk County’s outside counsel argues that federal law may not supercede a state or local government’s right to preserve public health and safety. Newsday has the story.