Why is BlueOcean Energy the right project for New Jersey and New York?
How does LNG affect the United States’ dependence on foreign energy sources?
Would the BlueOcean Energy project affect public use of the region's natural resources?
What type of experience does ExxonMobil have in LNG?
Will the BlueOcean Energy terminal or LNG ships affect local vessel traffic?
Would the BlueOcean Energy terminal withstand a major storm?
Is LNG safe?
Does an offshore LNG facility pose a security concern?
What are the economic benefits of the BlueOcean Energy project?
What types of jobs would the new terminal create?
How does the permitting process work?
Will the BlueOcean Energy project affect the marine environment?
Will the BlueOcean Energy project affect air quality?
Why can't renewable energy meet our needs?
Why is BlueOcean Energy the right project for New Jersey and New York?
The project will help the region by providing access to additional supplies of secure, safe and competitively priced energy, which is critically important for economic growth and environmental improvement.
Exxon Mobil Corporation is a leader in the global energy industry. For 125 years, ExxonMobil and its affiliates have provided energy people need. That experience has prepared affiliates BlueOcean Energy Terminal LLC and BlueOcean Energy Pipeline LLC (collectively the BlueOcean Energy project) to help fuel the future of New Jersey and New York.
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How does LNG affect the United States’ dependence on foreign energy sources?
The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that U.S. demand for natural gas will continue to increase, outpacing domestic supplies of natural gas. Global LNG supplies are critical to the energy future of the U.S. and can help meet the growing demand for clean natural gas. The U.S. needs a diverse portfolio of energy sources to sustain economic growth. LNG can provide a cost-competitive option.
In March 2005, the New England Governors' Conference stated, “Expansion of LNG import capacity does have fuel diversity benefits, even though LNG is simply natural gas in liquid form. LNG sources are different from traditional pipeline sources from eastern and western Canada and the U.S. Gulf Coast, thus introducing more options for supply.”
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Would the BlueOcean Energy project affect public use of the region's natural resources?
Anchored some 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey and 30 miles off the coast of New York, the BlueOcean Energy terminal will be far from shore and away from shipping lanes, ports and recreational areas. The terminal will not be visible from the shoreline.
The floating LNG terminal will be anchored to the ocean floor in about 150 feet of water. The approximate location is well south of the Cholera Bank fishing area and is separated from it by two existing major shipping lanes.
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What experience does ExxonMobil have in LNG?
ExxonMobil has more than 35 years of experience with natural gas liquefaction facilities – one of the longest histories in the industry. ExxonMobil-interest LNG receiving terminals are under construction in the U.S. (Texas), the U.K. and offshore Italy. These LNG terminals use advanced technology and provide multiple layers of protection for the safety of employees and communities.
ExxonMobil maintains safety as a top priority, and our long-term safety performance is industry leading. An unwavering commitment to safety and environmental excellence, leading-edge technology and extensive experience in the LNG industry make ExxonMobil affiliate BlueOcean Energy the right project to help the NJ and NY region grow and prosper
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Will the BlueOcean Energy LNG terminal or LNG ships affect local vessel traffic?
The floating ocean terminal will be designed and built to withstand extreme storms.. This design will benefit from decades of industry offshore platform experience, including with hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. We will develop and implement emergency response plans for extreme weather, such as hurricanes, to protect our crews, facilities and the environment.
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Would the BlueOcean Energy terminal withstand a major storm?
Fact: The floating ocean terminal will be designed and built to withstand extreme storms without breaking free of its mooring. This design will benefit from decades of industry offshore platform experience, including with hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. We will develop and implement emergency response plans for extreme weather, such as hurricanes, to protect our crews, facilities and the environment.
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Is LNG safe?
The LNG and natural gas pipeline industries have a proven strong safety record.
LNG ships have completed more than 45,000 LNG cargo deliveries over the past 40 years covering more than 100 million miles without a single release of LNG due to a cargo tank failure. Even in the unlikely event of a leak, LNG is odorless, nontoxic and would not leave a residue in the water.
Government safety studies conclude that risks of accidental LNG spills are small and are manageable with current safety practices.
Federal and state agencies, led by the U.S. Coast Guard, will independently confirm that the BlueOcean Energy project will meet rigorous safety standards and all regulations.
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Does an offshore LNG facility pose a security concern?
As a global company with operations in many challenging security environments, ExxonMobil has extensive experience in addressing security-related risks.
BlueOcean Energy is committed to providing a secure facility, with the protection of people and the environment as a top priority. We will work closely with security professionals at the U.S. Coast Guard and other appropriate agencies throughout project permitting, construction and operation to ensure the safety of people and the security of our facilities.
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What are the economic benefits of the BlueOcean Energy project?
The BlueOcean Energy project will provide access to global natural gas supplies. This diversifies the regional supply portfolio, improves reliability, moderates gas price swings, lowers the sensitivity to supply/demand shocks and fuels economic growth.
Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy studied the economic impact of the project on New Jersey. Over its operational life, the project could add $3 billion to New Jersey's GDP. Economic benefits from the investment could flow to New York's economy, as well.
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What types of jobs would the new terminal create?
A Rutgers University study estimated that ongoing operation of the BlueOcean Energy LNG terminal could have significant annual economic benefits for New Jersey, including approximately 300 direct and indirect jobs.
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How does the permitting process work?
Federal and state agencies, led by the U.S. Coast Guard, will independently confirm that the BlueOcean Energy LNG terminal and associated pipeline facilities meet rigorous engineering, safety, environmental and operational standards, and all regulations. The permitting process provides multiple opportunities for public input.
During the next year or so, as we prepare our Deepwater Port application, we will consult with federal, state and local agencies while undertaking detailed studies to provide environmental, safety and other data for permits required to develop and operate BlueOcean Energy.
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Will the BlueOcean Energy project affect the marine environment?
Anchored some 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey and about 30 miles off the coast of New York, the BlueOcean Energy LNG terminal will be far from shore and away from shipping lanes, ports and recreational areas. The terminal will not be visible from the shoreline.
We will avoid or mitigate the potential impacts of the project on sensitive resources. We will conduct extensive agency consultations and field surveys to identify cultural resources, endangered and threatened species, and sensitive wildlife, shellfish and fish habitats. In cooperation with federal and state agencies, we will consider the results of these consultations and surveys in the final floating ocean terminal site and pipeline route selection process.
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Will the BlueOcean Energy project affect air quality?
New supplies of clean-burning natural gas from BlueOcean Energy can help reduce air emissions and improve air quality, including a reduction in the need for new coal-fired power generation.
Natural gas has a growing role to play in helping New Jersey and New York meet clean energy objectives, and it is an ideal complement to renewables and efficiency initiatives.
The BlueOcean Energy project will comply with the federal Clean Air Act and its associated regulations, including compliance with regional air quality requirements.
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Why can't renewable energy meet our needs?
Renewable energy is in our future, but we also need reliable and plentiful resources. Renewable energy alone cannot guarantee reliability, nor does it have the capacity to power all our homes and businesses. Therefore, a balanced approach includes using clean-burning natural gas – supplemented by LNG (liquefied natural gas) – to meet our nation’s energy demands while we work toward a renewable energy future.
Read more:
LNG: An essential part of America's clean energy mix
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