I found the article today about the new LNG terminals not having any LNG to import interesting: See
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/bu.../29gas.html?hp
On the one hand, I recall the debate over the safety of LNG terminals in some important ports, the one nearest me being Boston. On the other hand, I recall the Bush administration and Republicans talking about turning the regulation and permitting over to the Feds so the local communities can't stop them from being built. Importing LNG was seen as a key to US energy policy, and it would tap into massive quantities of natgas just sitting around or being flared off, and thus available for cheap.
But the Bush-Cheney oil experts got that wrong too.
Other nations are willing to pay much more than the significantly increased price in the US, and so, the new eight LNG terminals are sitting idle. But hey, they only cost about $7B.
But then I thought about Thomson Point practically in ANWR which Exxon has had a lease on for three decades without pumping a single barrel of oil.
One excuse, besides the dog ate their plans, was that they need a pipeline for the natgas. So, with demand for oil really high, Exxon is going to rush Thomson into production in 2013, if the government builds a pipeline for the gas...
So, with Exxon making more profits than god, why doesn't Exxon build an LNG plant to liquefy the natgas so it can be shipped to those idle LNG terminals?
Ah, right, the government won't build the terminal for Exxon, but the precedent was set long ago that oil companies need the government to provide free land to drill, free pipelines to use, free exploration, and just plain tax breaks.
In any case, clearly Bush-Cheney don't know how to craft an oil industry policy that accomplishes what they intend because they clearly know nothing about the industry. And their secret oil industry advisors are either idiots, or they saw an opportunity to ensure massive profits for their employers and big bonuses to pocket.
So, why hasn't Exxon started producing Thomson Point?
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