San Diego Metropolitan - The Connection

You’re enjoying morning coffee, sitting on your veranda overlooking the magnificent Pacific Ocean from your La Jolla home. Between deep sighs of contentment, you pick up the newspaper and, wham, there it is — a multinational oil company is planning to locate a liquefied natural gas to natural gas conversion plant in your immediate area. Part of the plan is the construction of offshore facilities for tanker ships to dock to transfer LNG through pipes on the ocean floor connected to the onshore conversion facility.

Your little bit of heaven is in danger. You react — no way, not here. But the article tells of the critical shortage of natural gas needed to power energy plants. The energy crisis is real — the need for natural gas is real. Something needs to be done — now. “But why here,” you mutter, “why not elsewhere?”

Now you read that elsewhere is everywhere — plans are not just for La Jolla, but also off Imperial Beach, Coronado, Point Loma, Del Mar and Oceanside. What? You are now screaming — this is insane. This will ruin the entire San Diego coast.

Well, we need the gas and we need the energy, and then you read not only does San Diego need it, but also Baja California. Part of the energy and natural gas will be exported to Baja to meet its growing needs both for natural gas and to drive electrical power plants — that way the entire binational region will benefit.

Baja! If they need it, why not put the docks and plant on their shores? But wait a minute — San Diego also needs it? So what? Don’t put this on our side.

The reaction described is taking place — not along the San Diego coast — but along the Baja California coast.

The five proposed facilities are not for San Diego, but for Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito Beach and Ensenada. And residents there are up in arms. “What?” they are screaming. “San Diego needs it and most of the natural gas would go to them, and the energy plants proposed for here are for exporting most of the electricity to San Diego? Put the plants on their side of the border! Why should our coast be ruined because San Diego needs more and more energy?”

Natural gas is one of the cleanest sources for running the turbines that generate electricity. In addition, it is the fuel of choice for industry, businesses and residences. Each year, the United States uses in excess of 21 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. By 2020, usage will grow 60 percent to 34 trillion cubic feet.

Domestically produced natural gas is a dwindling commodity. Not because we don’t have it, but because, through a mix of prohibitions and permit limitations, deposits in excess of 137 trillion cubic feet in the Rocky Mountain States, more than 75 trillion cubic feet in the Gulf of Mexico and more than 2,000 trillion cubic feet off coastlines are not open for development — enough for the better part of the century at present use.

The Department of Energy ranks California as the nation’s No. 2 state in consumption of energy, first in use of residential, commercial and transportation energy and third in industrial sector energy use. The state uses the second highest amount of natural gas but produces only 16 percent of what it needs and only 75 percent of its electricity.

So there we have it. Due to our own restrictions, we can’t use available natural gas deposits within our borders. Thus suppliers look for international sources — and that is what Sempra, Marathon, Phillips and Shell propose to do. From as far away as Indonesia they buy natural gas, chill it to liquid state, ship it and convert it back to gas. But why not ship it directly to the United States?

The American Gas Foundation’s report, “Natural Gas & New Technologies for a Cleaner 21st Century,” offers this tidbit: “There are only three LNG facilities in operation in the U.S. Numerous additional facilities are under consideration, but siting an LNG receiving terminal can be a formidable task. Most people don’t want these facilities in their back yard, so the next viable option is to site them outside the U.S. border, such as in Baja California and the Bahamas.”

The multinational companies seeking to meet California’s demand get the public relations black eye with the locals. At the same time U.S. elected officials hypocritically threaten not to allow energy imports unless Baja energy plants meet California environmental standards. In the near future San Diegans likely will condemn the multinationals and Mexico for environmental insensitivity — but no more brownouts or you’ll be hearing from my congressman.

Baja, now you understand: You need the gas and energy just as we do, but you don’t have the same restrictions. The plants have to be someplace, so why not Baja?

San Diego, maybe now you can understand why coastal Baja California residents are up in arms.

Patrick Osio Jr. can be reached through San Diego Metropolitan or by e-mail at posiojr@aol.com.