NM Gas Co plans to build a 1 Billion cubic foot Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) peak shaver facility in Rio Rancho near the Double Eagle Airport. The facility would be 25 acres on a 160 parcel. This has been rather under the radar, with very little press coverage or community information. LNG poses risks, costs to NM ratepayers and comes when we need to decarbonize rather than build out more fossil fuel infrastructure. This project will go before the PRC for a decision this fall.
Please come: Community Forum: Tuesday July 11th 6pm Taylor Ranch Library, we are holding a community forum with LNG Interveners & Experts to answer questions. If you live in Rio Rancho, or have friends in that area– please share this email and flyer with them, text them, and remind them to come out! For Sharing: Folder With Flyer
RSVP for In Person Taylor Ranch Library: bit.ly/RioRanchoLNG
RSVP for Zoom: bit.ly/LNG-webinar
What is LNG? LNG is fracked methane gas that has been chilled in an energy intensive process to -260F. The facility will be able to vaporize the LNG back to natural gas and pump it into NMGas Co.’s existing pipelines. Rio Rancho facility will also include tanker-trucks picking up LNG to transport across NM–increasing tanker truck traffic.
Location: Quail Ranch, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo County The facility threatens the health and safety (in the case of leaks and explosions) of 40,000+ residents, 7 nearby schools, and 2 community centers. Including: Quail Ranch, Vantana Ranch, CNM, Volcano Vista High School, Paradise Hills, Volcano Cliffs and Petroglyph National Monument.
Risks: The main physical danger at an LNG site is a leak forming a cloud of low-lying natural gas that drifts until it hits an ignition source — even simple static electricity — and bursts into flames. Proposed LNG transport trucks moving to and from the facility also pose a significant risk to communities along transportation corridors. LNG poses unique safety risks for firefighters and first responders as fires are extremely difficult to control.
-
June, 2023, Cameron Louisiana, Town was evacuated within a one mile radius after LNG explosion
-
June, 2022, Freeport LNG, Texas there was an explosion sending a 450ft fireball and neighborhoods were evacuated.
-
March, 2014 Plymouth LNG in Washington exploded, injuring 4 employees and 200 people were evacuated.
Interveners in the case before the PRC: The Attorney General, New Energy Economy, Western Resource Advocates, and Coalition for Clean and Affordable Energy
Lawmakers to Contact & Express concern: Senator Harold Pope Jr., Rep. Joy Garrett, Bernalillo County Commissioner Barbara Baca, Mayor Greg Hull, and Rio Rancho City Council District 1 Jim Owens.
Lawmakers Contact Info:
-
Rio Rancho City Council District 1 : Jim Owen jowen@rrnm.gov
-
Senator Harold Pope: harold.popejr@nmlegis.gov
-
Representative Joy Garrett : joy.garratt@nmlegis.gov
-
Bernalillo County Commissioner: Barbara Baca District1@bernco.gov
-
Rio Rancho Mayor: Greg Hull ghull@rrnm.gov
Please RSVP for in-person or zoom event and share widely to help us connect with more community members!
RSVP for Taylor Ranch Library: bit.ly/RioRanchoLNG
RSVP for Zoom: bit.ly/LNG-webinar
We will discuss concerns about safety, security, added costs for NMGC customers and impacts on property values.