BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The energy companies that want to build a liquefied natural gas facility near Port Canaveral made their case Wednesday before commissioners.
Chesapeake Utilities and Berkshire Hathaway Energy representatives laid out their plan to build the LNG plant near a couple hundred homes.
The port owns the land on the barge canal, so the companies would have to buy it if the port’s willing to sell.
Chesapeake’s vice president of strategic development began the presentation.
“We’re here today to discuss a very transformative opportunity for the Cape Canaveral region,” Mike Cassel said.
Cassel and Roger Williams of Berkshire Hathaway told commissioners they want to open the LNG plant for space and cruise customers by 2029.
Vince Cipponeri would live less than a mile away.
“If it blows up, I have no idea, what’s gonna happen to us,” the neighbor told Merritt Island Community Correspondent James Sparvero Tuesday.
Cipponeri spoke during public comment Wednesday and told commissioners he would be in the blast zone if there were an explosion.
Williams, the vice president of commercial LNG and gas development, said the plant would be safe.
“LNG, fundamentally, is a much safer and cleaner fuel than any of the traditional fuels that people may be thinking of,” he said. “It’ll be a net benefit for the community.”
After the meeting, Port Canaveral CEO Captain John Murray told Sparvero he shares the concerns of neighbors.
“Absolutely, I just spent some time with the neighbors,” Murray said. “And, you know, any type of a project like this has a huge impact on people in our community, and it’s important that everybody have their say.”
After it reviews the proposal, the next update from the port on whether it might sell this land, or not, will come up at the commission meeting in January.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates to this developing story.