Natural gas terminal planned for S. Jersey

    A liquefied natural gas terminal may be coming to South Jersey after all. An earlier attempt was defeated by opponents in a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. What’s different this time, instead of BP trying, it will be Hess LNG, and the facility will be built in one-state, not two.

    A liquefied natural gas terminal may be coming to South Jersey after all. An earlier attempt was defeated by opponents in a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. What’s different this time, instead of BP trying, it will be Hess LNG, and the facility will be built in one-state, not two. Hess now owns the BP site – along the Delaware River in Gloucester County.

    Listen:
    [audio: 091112splng.mp3]

    BP gave up the project last year after a five-year battle with environmentalists and the state of Delaware.

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    Although environmental advocates say natural gas is cleaner than crude oil and coal, they worry a spill or act of terrorism could cause injuries up to a mile away.

    Gloucester County Freeholder and Senate Majority leader Steve Sweeney touts the economic benefits of the project. He says the new proposal will avoid a lawsuit by constructing the pier exclusively in New Jersey’s territory.

    Sweeney says with the West Deptford Sunoco refinery closing, and the post office laying off 600 people at their logistics center, the area needs the jobs.

    Sweeney: You know we had a minus job impact of a thousand jobs within a week or two and they were good paying high paying jobs so these types of jobs don’t come along all the time.

    Sweeney says the project could create hundreds of construction jobs, and 100 permanent jobs.

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