Governor's close ties to gas lobby (yep, Schwarzenegger)

[Judi Lynn]

Governor's close ties to gas lobby
Past, present advisers hired to help push offshore terminal
Christian Berthelsen, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, August 15, 2005

Sacramento -- Energy companies have yet to sell a drop of imported liquefied natural gas in California. But their quest to ship huge volumes into the state is proving lucrative for firms with close ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

BHP Billiton, an Australian energy giant and leading contender to build a liquefied natural gas processing terminal off the California coast, has hired a lobbying group overseen by George David Kieffer, a Los Angeles lawyer so trusted by Schwarzenegger that the governor asked him to help recruit staff for the administration. He also has served as a personal lawyer to the governor's wife, Maria Shriver.

The account made Kieffer's firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, the top- grossing firm in the capital in the first quarter of this year, up from a rank of 25th for the same period last year.

Beyond Manatt's efforts on behalf of BHP, a range of liquefied natural gas companies and trade groups joined forces last year to fund a $1 million campaign -- called Californians for Clean, Affordable and Safe Energy -- to increase public support for their product. The public relations team hired by the coalition includes current and former political consultants to the governor and a firm part-owned by Schwarzenegger's chief fundraiser.
(snip/...)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/08/15/MNG0NE81B71.DTL

[Throd]

1. There is a proposal to build one in Long Beach harbor...

From what I can tell, the majority of the citizens are dead set against it. That said, our city council doesn't give a crap what the people think.

[Javaman]

3. perhaps heir gover-nator should build one next to his own house.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. ... build one in Long Beach....

Coos Bay, Oregon, too.

[xxqqqzme]

6. was it the emergency budget bill

that decided cities & states had no say so in where these R located?

[Pastiche423]

8. It was in the Energy bill

that whistle ass signed not so long ago that stated:

CONGRESS is about to enact an energy bill that would severely limit the power of coastal states and municipalities to veto construction of massive -- potentially dangerous -- liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) terminals in their harbors. If the bill is signed into law by President Bush, federal authorities will gain the power to overrule states and municipalities in choosing locations for these terminals.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0729-27.htm

One is being proposed in my backyard and our community has been vehemently opposing it.

[MasonJar]

2. What can anyone say,but Schwarzenegger. (Lifted and altered

from Amadeus, Mozart to Salieri.

[BrotherBuzz]

5. Rumors and schemes aplenty in this mess...

Interesting, I heard one plan would be to ship CNG up the Sea of Cortez, offload it in Mexico, then pipe it into California, thus making an end run around California and United States EPA rules. Exporting pollution and headaches may not be ethical, but it makes economical sense to the BFEE. Keep an ear open for this alternative plan to be refloated in the near future. Also, keep an eye on the entire CNG market as it is, indeed, the growth energy industry in the future.

Oh, part of the bigger CNG picture may explain why we have US troops in Paraguay. It was probably covered in Cheney's energy papers and justified by Bush*s plan in all things:Privatize the profits and Socialize the costs.


Things are afoot and I see a lot of skulduggery from the BFEE in the near future - Schwarzenegger is but just one cog in the nasty machine.

[CountAllVotes]

7. we will not forget Ahnuld ...

Come election time - right now it is going for $3.01 a gallon for unleaded regular at Union 76. Californians aren't liking this Ahnuld. In fact Ahnuld, WE THE PEOPLE are pissed as hell and WE AREN'T GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

You are nothing but a UGLY puking shill and a rip-off Gropenugly!

[Hotler]

10. Shrinkage! It's shrinkage I tell you. The water is cold.

Arnold in a spedo. wwwwaaaaaa (shiver going up my spine)

[Algorem]

9. How much do the tobacco co.'s pay him to smoke those cigars?

They pay 'em to smoke 'em in TV shows and movies,I'm sure he's still on the take from them.