Mass. governor approves LNG terminals

Mass. governor approves LNG terminals Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has approved two proposed LNG delivery terminals off the Atlantic coast near Gloucester that could boost LNG supplies in New England by about 20 percent.
   The projects also need approval from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration.
   Excelerate, a company started by Oklahoma billionaire George B Kaiser, plans to build the Northeast Gateway project 13 miles southeast of Gloucester, and says it can be operating in a year.
   Neptune LNG, a subsidiary of Suez Energy North America, which is building its LNG terminal seven miles off the coast, said it anticipates having a fully operational by 2009. The completed operation will include a pipeline connection to an existing sub-sea pipeline, specially designed ships, and LNG supply to serve customers in Massachusetts and the rest of New England.
   SUEZ also owns the existing LNG terminal in the Boston suburb of Everett.
   Several land-based terminals have also been proposed in New England, but have met strong opposition because of concerns about terrorist attacks or accidents. While some fishermen opposed the offshore terminals, they are seen as less objectionable by some environmentalists and politicians.