Spectra Energy
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=
no notes 10/16
=</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">ntbcw spectrum 7 ?
</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" /><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">mahdi</font></div><div>https://books.google.com/books?id=2p6LDwAAQBAJ</div><div>3 mil$ nat res almost 2 gas and oil sector; 13x Gore; 1998-2003 hallib over 1 mil$ gop 55k$ dems]; b43 got more oil $ than any other fed cand; 9 days before inaug API HQ K street mtg to draw up wishlist; ez drill fed land, more alaska an GOM, lower royalty for offshore etc; --> energy plan may 2001; API appt to admin: newsweek says not since rise of railroads so many footsoldiers; energy ceo 22.5m$ to BC has constant access to secret energy task force; lay b43 pal had most access; cheney starts mtgs w/ ff ceo contributors;energy sec [NPI advisors] had 109 mtds spencer abraham betw jan and may 2001, incl chevtex, exxxonmobil and enron, all big donors; </div><div>arbusto fail bought by <b>spectrum</b>? fail bought by harken (soros and harvard] for 2.25m$ in stock; b43 go 600K$ and bd seat 50-120K/yr</div><div>cheney secdeg 1990 got b41 to go after saddam in kuwait b/c of oil; aei kazakstan caspian pipeline operated by chevron, hallib built refineries Tengiz; azerjajan --> hallib ceo oct 1995 (he had good rel w/ saudis as secdef] 1994-2001 rev up 127%</div><div>
</div></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=
</font><div><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494695926856_17904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: " helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" geneva="Geneva" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"> Spectra Energy was seeking state permits for its natural gas projects running though Massachusetts, company lobbyists maintained a close and ongoing relationship with top state environmental officials, according to emails obtained exclusively by DeSmog through an open records request.</p><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1494695926856_17916" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: " helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" geneva="Geneva" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">Since 2012, Spectra has advanced three upgrade projects on its Algonquin pipeline in the northeast U.S. All three — Algonquin Incremental Market, Atlantic Bridge, and Access Northeast — traverse Massachusetts and require various state permits to proceed. <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://desmogblog.cmail20.com/t/t-l-kriiuhl-yuirlyty-jl/" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; background: transparent; color: rgb(47, 130, 222); outline: none; font-weight: bold;">Read more.</a></p></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font><div><a href="https://movetoamend.org/analysis-shows-dangerous-pipeline-mega-merger-threatens-climate-and-consumers"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://movetoamend.org/analysis-shows-dangerous-pipeline-mega-merger-threatens-climate-and-consumers</font></a></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2017-01-04T00:00:00-08:00"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">January 4, 2017</font></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Nadia Prupis</font></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-source field-type-link-field field-label-hidden" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/04/analysis-shows-dangerous-pipeline-mega-merger-threatens-climate-and-consumers" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Common Dreams</font></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The proposed merger between pipeline giants Enbridge and Spectra would have devastating consequences for consumers and the climate, and would significantly reduce competition in the marketplace, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/01/04/new-analysis-highlights-alarming-anti-consumer-impacts-proposed-enbridgespectra" target="blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">according to</a> a new analysis released Wednesday by the advocacy group Food & Water Watch (FWW).</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The group called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reject the proposal, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/09/06/enbridge-spreads-tentacles-acquire-spectra-creating-pipeline-enemy-1%20" target="blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">announced last year</a>, which would see the creation of the largest energy-infrastructure firm in the country—one that would control approximately a fifth of North America's natural gas supplies, as well as a large chunk of its processing capacity and other infrastructure.</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Enbridge is based in Calgary, and Spectra in Houston. According to the group's <a href="http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/sites/default/files/fww_enbridge-spectra_white_paper_jan_2017.pdf" target="blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">analysis</a> (pdf), the merger would give the companies control of 79 percent of the offshore Gulf of Mexico-Louisiana natural gas pipeline network; 92 percent of the pipelines crossing the U.S.-Canada border; and 100 percent of the pipelines in and out of Michigan.</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It would also enable Enbridge-Spectra to raise prices on consumers or increase costs for its rivals in those key regions at will.</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"An Enbridge-Spectra mega-merger would create a domineering fossil fuel monopoly that would have the economic and political power to arbitrarily raise prices on consumers by manipulating the market at every stage of the natural gas product cycle, from the wellhead to the meter," said FWW executive director Wenonah Hauter.</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Both companies also have a history of safety issues, with a track record of leaks and spills that have impacted surrounding communities and environments. From 1996 to 2015, Enbridge unintentionally released more than 54,000 barrels of oils and natural liquids. Its leaks and other releases doubled during that time, from 54 to 117, the analysis states.</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">A notorious 2010 incident saw one of its pipelines spill up to 1 million gallons of crude in Michigan's Kalamazoo River and Talmadge Creek, contaminating the local environment. Nearby residents reported neurological, gastrointestinal, and respiratory problems, while Enbridge was ordered to pay <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/05/13/enbridge-fork-over-75-million-role-kalamazoo-tar-sands-spill" target="blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">$75 million</a> in cleanup costs alone.</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"The merger would create a sprawling 38,000-mile oil and gas pipeline network—and with both firms carrying disturbing safety and service records, this deal would put the wellbeing of countless communities at risk," Hauter said. "The FTC must extend its review of this dangerous, anti-consumer merger, and ultimately reject it."</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Shareholders for both companies <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2016/12/16/shareholders-approve-enbridge-s-28b-acquisition-of.html" target="blank" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">approved the deal</a> last month.</font></p></div></div></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font><div><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1478279287562_3735" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;" helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" geneva="Geneva" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Phil Suter, the spouse of Maggie Suter, a high-ranking official at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) who led the review for two gas pipeline projects by Spectra Energy, is a paid consultant for Spectra on a related pipeline project.</font></p><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1478279287562_3736" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;" helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" geneva="Geneva" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Experts on ethics in government regulatory bodies told DeSmog this case raises serious red flags, amounting to what appears to be a conflict of interest.</font></p><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1478279287562_3702" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;" helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" geneva="Geneva" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Suter should have, at the least, disclosed to FERC the conflict, and recused herself from these projects,” says Neil Gordon, an investigator at the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group monitoring money in politics. <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://desmogblog.cmail20.com/t/t-l-httdhdl-yuirlyty-g/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1478279287562_3704" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; background: transparent; outline: none; font-weight: bold;">Read more.</a></font></p></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font><div class="views-field views-field-title"> <font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/07/31/following-desmog-s-revelations-spectra-pipeline-ma-senators-demand-more-answers-ferc-alleged-conflict-interest">Following DeSmog’s Revelations on Spectra Pipeline, MA Senators Demand More Answers from FERC on Alleged Conflict of Interest</a></span> </font></div>
<div class="views-field views-field-body"> <font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="field-content"><p>In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Massachusetts Senators...</p></span> </font></div>
<div class="views-field views-field-view-node"> <font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="field-content"><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/07/31/following-desmog-s-revelations-spectra-pipeline-ma-senators-demand-more-answers-ferc-alleged-conflict-interest">Read more</a></span>
n a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (<span class="caps">FERC</span>), Massachusetts Senators <a target="_blank" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/2016.07.25%20Letter%20to%20FERC%20regarding%20Spectra%20NRG.pdf">Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey demand new answers</a> about an alleged conflict of interest in the environmental review of a proposed Spectra Energy natural gas pipeline project.
</font><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As DeSmog first <a target="_blank" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/05/26/revealed-contractors-hired-ferc-review-new-spectra-energy-pipeline-work-spectra-related-project">reported</a>, the Environmental Assessment (<span class="caps">EA</span>) for Spectra’s Atlantic Bridge project was carried out on <span class="caps">FERC</span>’s behalf by third-party contractor Natural Resource Group (<span class="caps">NRG</span>),
which at the time was working directly for Spectra on a related
pipeline, PennEast. Following these revelations, Sens. Warren and Markey
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/06/14/senators-demand-new-ferc-environmental-review-spectra-energy-project-after-desmog-revelations">demanded</a> explanations from <span class="caps">FERC</span> Commissioner Norman Bay, urging him to issue a new and objective review for the project.</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps">FERC</span> Commissioner Norman Bay responded by detailing the procedure by which <span class="caps">FERC</span>
chooses third-party contractors and vets candidates for conflicts. “It
is my understanding that these procedures were followed with respect to
the selection of the third party contractor for the Atlantic Bridge
project, and no disqualifying conflict of interest was identified,”
he wrote.</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Responding to the Senators’ general inquiry on the number of conflicts identified in recent years by <span class="caps">FERC</span>,
Bay mentioned that the Commission identified eight such conflicts in
the past 15 months. In those cases, potential third-party contractors
were disqualified. </font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But Warren and Markey are unsatisfied with Bay’s response, and now want more specific answers on the hiring of <span class="caps">NRG</span> to review Atlantic Bridge. </font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">They write in the follow-up letter:</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="dquo">“</span>Did Spectra or <span class="caps">NRG</span> disclose any potential conflicts of interest to <span class="caps">FERC</span>? If not, did <span class="caps">FERC</span> conduct an independent review to determine whether claims that no conflict of interest exist were valid in this instance?”</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Massachusetts Senators also want to know on what basis were the
eight potential contractors recently disqualified and whether these were
based on financial conflicts. </font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While Spectra Energy has repeatedly ignored DeSmog’s requests for comment on this story, the company has recently written to <span class="caps">FERC</span> in response to concerns raised by Massachusetts residents on the alleged conflict of interest in Atlantic Bridge.</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In its response, Spectra essentially confirmed the facts of DeSmog’s investigation – but said that <span class="caps">FERC</span> ultimately reviewed and approved the hiring of <span class="caps">NRG</span> as third-party contractor. Spectra also minimized its direct involvement with <span class="caps">NRG</span> in the PennEast Pipeline, saying it is a minority owner in the consortium pursuing the project.</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="dquo">“</span>Spectra Energy is not responsible for managing the PennEast project, which would include coordination with <span class="caps">NRG</span> regarding public affairs work for the PennEast project,” the company wrote. </font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">These developments come amidst new <a target="_blank" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/07/19/while-reviewing-spectra-energy-gas-pipeline-project-ferc-contractor-did-not-disclose-its-hiring-spectra-five-other">revelations</a> by DeSmog on a potential conflict of interest in a related Spectra project, Algonquin Incremental Market (<span class="caps">AIM</span>).</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps">NRG</span>, which also performed the Environmental Impact Statement for <span class="caps">AIM</span>, was working for Spectra at the time of its hiring by <span class="caps">FERC</span> as third-party contractor. During the review of <span class="caps">AIM</span>, Spectra then hired <span class="caps">NRG</span>
directly for no less than five other of its projects, potentially
incentivizing the contractor to provide a beneficial assessment for <span class="caps">AIM</span>.</font>
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="caps">FERC</span> went on to approve <span class="caps">AIM</span>, which is currently under construction.</font></p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
===</font>
</div></div></div></div></div>