Hillary opposes Broadwater plan

[cal04]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton formally announced her opposition Friday to the proposed Broadwater liquid natural gas terminal on safety grounds, cheering opponents who hope she will play a central role in blocking federal approval of the project.Clinton (D-N.Y.) aired her opposition to the $700 million plan at a North Shore beach with the shuttered $6 billion Shoreham nuclear power plant in the background.


Broadwater Energy, the partnership of TransCanada Corp. and Shell, has proposed a 1,200-foot terminal in the middle of Long Island Sound, about nine miles north of the Shoreham-Wading River area, halfway between New York and Connecticut, as an answer to the region's energy needs. Clinton, who has previously indicated she had concerns about the safety and security of the project, Friday called it "just too big, too dangerous and too disruptive."

Congress has had significant influence over the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will decide the project. Under the energy bill signed by President George W. Bush, the agency has more power to overrule state and local government objections.

John Hritcko Jr., Broadwater's regional project director, said it was "disappointing" that Clinton aligned "with those few Long Islanders who have prematurely judged the merits of Broadwater," turning "their backs on a viable solution to ... staggering energy prices and environmental need to clean the air and water." "We have a new reason for optimism," said opponent Richard Amper of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society.Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has also said he will move to block Broadwater.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lihill0813,0,338205.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[Danmel]

1. It's about time

Schumer came out against Broadwater months ago, as did the Suffolk County legislature and some LI congressmen. A number of Town Boards, including the East End towns and Untington also passed anti Broadwater resolutions The mouthpieces for Royal Shell/TransCanada, are none other than Bob Gaffney, former Republican Suffolk County executive and our good buddy Rudy Guiliani.