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GUESTS: Carmen Ramirez, Vice President, Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), Lupe Anguiano, Volunteer, Protecting our Environment, Maricela Morales, Mayor, Port Hueneme

The California Lands Commission earlier this week voted against a proposal to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal off the Southern California coast, after a day-long hearing. The proposal came from the Australian energy giant BHP Billiton, setting off a four-year battle with local environmental and community activists that could have an important impact on California’s energy future. The company wants to sell California natural gas extracted from Australia, using an LNG terminal. Creating LNG requires cooling natural gas to minus 260 degrees, which turns it into a liquid that can be shipped. Once it reaches its destination, the gas is reheated. Community activists say that the completed LNG terminal, called the Cabrillo Port Project, would emit more than 200 tons of pollutants per year, including over 160 tons of Nitrogen Oxide which is far beyond the maximum of 25 tons per year allowed by the Clean Air Act. The project is located just offshore of Oxnard, a city with a 66 percent Latino population. On Sunday, the day before the lease for the project was voted down, both the Los Angeles Times and the Ventura County Star editorialized against the Cabrillo Port. BHP Billiton has spent nearly $3 million lobbying for the project. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the company and its lobbyists are also closely connected to a number of former members of the Schwarzenegger administration. Governor Schwarzenegger, who has veto power over the project voiced his support for liquefied natural gas in California yesterday.

There will be a California Coastal Commission hearing on Thursday April 12th at 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd in Santa Barbara at 9 am. The Commission will be discussing the LNG terminal during its meeting.