LETTER: LNG spurs concerns

How many of us had no power for days during Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas in the recent past? We had no power for three days and nights, but we were lucky because we have good friends who did have power, and they invited us to stay for the duration; but how many of us had to rely on the good graces of our families, friends and social services to keep us warm, fed and with potable water?

The first remarks from Gov. Abbott about the winter storm blamed the New Green Deal and wind turbines and solar power, but it was soon revealed that it was the oil/gas industries and Abbott himself that were to blame.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas manages the price of power and balances the power grid’s supply and demand. ERCOT and non-municipal electric utilities answer to the state Public Utility Commission, whose board is appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. And everyone answers to the Texas Legislature, which can write laws to regulate any part of the system. These are important facts to remember.

Under Texas deregulation there were no regulations requiring winterization of well heads and other oil/gas equipment; nothing happened, and we Texans were left quite literally “out in the cold.” And all this misery and death happened to us citizens while Sen. Ted Cruz flew to warm Cancun. Gov. Abbott was nowhere to be found, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Texans would endure blackouts “to keep the government out of our business.”

Subsequently, I wonder about the three proposed liquefied natural gas export terminals near South Padre Island and Laguna Vista where I used to live. We residents had been told by the LNG companies and our local politicians that all of the safety regulations required by federal and state regulatory agencies will be met, but isn’t it wise to now wonder about these “supposed regulations” being sufficient and enforced substantially after our winter storm experience?

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates, but the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s three commissioners also are again appointed by Abbott. These commissioners make final determinations on contested permitting and enforcement matters.

How many regulations for LNG will be adequately enforced by TCEQ for the health of the local communities? If we consider ERCOT to be a failure of administrative oversight by Abbott, then we should surely wonder and doubt what type of oversight is being completed with the safety regulations of the proposed LNG plants.

Diane Teter, Edinburg