Unanswered questions about natural gas plant

Re “Big Baja Natural Gas Plant May Cool Rivals’ Chances,” Oct. 9

This article is a long-overdue expose regarding the multibillion-dollar sweepstakes now underway among multinational corporations for future control of California’s energy markets.

Although you quote so-called experts who think California should increase its dependence on foreign, finite liquefied natural gas, nowhere do you examine the reality: Residential natural gas use in California is expected to decrease in the foreseeable future because of conservation measures being included in nearly all new structures.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s support for LNG leaves many questions. Why has California not conducted an independent analysis to determine if we need an LNG terminal? Why has California done no siting analysis to determine where a terminal would best be located? Why should we sacrifice our coastline for industrial-polluting LNG?

MARK MASSARA

Director

Sierra Club Coastal Programs

San Francisco