The local outpouring of about 900 citizens, two-thirds of which opposed the idea of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal, prompted San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. last Wednesday to drop its plans for studying the feasibility of a LNG import terminal and other facilities in the far northern end of California in Humboldt Bay.

Citizens packed a municipal auditorium Tuesday at a meeting with the Eureka, CA, City Council as a preface to the elected officials deciding whether to accept the energy developer’s request for an exclusive right to assess a site on part of a little used airport.

A second meeting scheduled for Thursday was not held once Calpine notified the city it was dropping its plans. A Calpine spokesperson said the company has not abandoned future thoughts about LNG development, but it has no other proposed sites at this point. She said that LNG would continue to be “an important part” of Calpine’s fuels group, which purchases, produces and owns gas reserves to fuel the company’s growing national fleet of power plants.

Although the Eureka council was willing to hold another meeting and take a formal vote on Calpine’s request, the spokesperson said the company didn’t want to put everyone through added time and expense given the level of opposition demonstrated Tuesday. But she said up to 250 of the citizens expressed support for a terminal.

The project cancelation came just days after the town of Harpswell, ME, rejected a similar LNG project planned by TransCanada and ConocoPhillips. The Los Angeles Times said in a story last Thursday that the two closely linked actions raise questions “about the future of LNG imports into the United States.” Calpine’s spokesperson, however, indicated the company still feels LNG will play a role in the future for its and other generating plant operators around the nation.

“Calpine has withdrawn its plans to proceed with a LNG terminal at Samoa Point, in Eureka, and is ceasing development activities,” a company spokesperson said in a prepared statement. The company “values it relationships with the communities where its plants are located,” so it wants at least a clear majority of support. The inference is that it was not getting majority support in Eureka.

“Based on feedback from the local community and public officials, we believe this decision is best for all parties,” said Ken Koye, a Calpine vice president involved in the proposed project. “The Eureka City Council, the city staff and community leaders are to be commended for their time and effort in considering the project. We appreciate those who worked with us to explore the potential for the project.”

Part of Calpine’s preliminary conceptual plans included the development of a 220-MW electric generation plant, partially to supply the estimated 20 MW of power needed for the LNG terminal operations, and a 30-inch-diameter, 155-mile natural gas transmission pipeline using the existing corridor of a 12-inch-diameter supply line that runs northwesterly from Red Bluff, CA, in the north-central Interstate-5 highway corridor to the Humboldt County area.

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