EATONTOWN, N.J.—All that would peek above the ocean waves off New York and New Jersey would be two small buoys tethered to underwater pipes. But they’re already casting a large shadow, with potential effects on the economy of the New York metropolitan area, the marine environment, and even America’s future as a net importer or exporter of energy.
Liberty Natural Gas wants to build a deep-water port in federal waters 19 miles off Jones Beach, N.Y., and 29 miles off Long Branch, N.J.
Its stated purpose is to bring additional natural gas into the New York area during times of peak demand, thereby lowering home-heating prices.
Business and labor groups support the plan, which was first proposed in 2008 and is projected to generate 800 construction jobs. But environmentalists, fishing groups, and some elected officials say it is a dangerous, unnecessary project, given that America is awash in large supplies of domestically produced natural gas, much of which is produced in the Marcellus Shale formation just west of New York.
Idea for Gas Terminal Off East Coast Rankles Fracking Foes
ll that would peek above the ocean waves off New York and New Jersey would be two small buoys tethered to underwater pipes.
An environmentalist concerned about global warming wears a statement t-shirt at a public hearing on a proposed offshore terminal for imports of liquefied natural gas in Eatontown, N.J., on Jan. 8, 2015. Liberty Natural Gas wants to build the facility off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. AP Photo/Wayne Parry
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Offshore LNG poses unacceptable risks to the state's residents.
