LNG terminal siting: a broader view.

• Position: New England - Liquefied natural gas - Brief Article

Demand for natural gas in New England is growing. Analysis by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) estimates that New England can only meet its natural gas needs through 2010 if at least one other new major liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal (or two to three smaller terminals) is built in New England. LNG is an important transitional fuel, easing the region's dependence on other, more polluting fossil fuels. Natural gas-fired power plants produce less harmful air pollution and fewer greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming than coal and oil burning power plants. However, the construction and siting of LNG terminals involve risks to the environment, including habitat damage, scenic disruption and potential safety hazards.

Currently, proposals for LNG terminals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This has pitted communities against one another in wrestling with the merits and the risks of...