PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – A community continues fighting to keep a plant that would make fuel for rockets away from their neighborhood.
The controversial proposal was addressed again at Wednesday’s Port Canaveral commission meeting. “I’m not just worried,” a neighbor told commissioners. “I’m horrified by this LNG facility.”
Chesapeake Utilities and Berkshire Hathaway are trying to buy land on the Barge Canal that’s owned by the port.
The energy companies say the plant would be safe, but the neighbors didn’t trust them.
“LNG is non-toxic. It’s not corrosive. It’s not explosive,” Victoria Price Langan of Chesapeake Utilities said.
[BELOW: Proposed LNG plant near Port Canaveral sparks debate]
“This is an insane proposal, and it should immediately be rejected,” another neighbor said.
Wednesday, the port didn’t vote whether they’ll sell the land or not, but your Merritt Island Community Correspondent got to talk for the first time with a representative of the project.
Alex Nye with Chesapeake’s communications department said LNG is the future fuel for the maritime and space industries.
“Why do you think residents shouldn’t be concerned for their safety?” Sparvero asked.
“Natural gas is being used on Merritt Island already,” Nye answered. “So homes and businesses already have natural gas service here.”
Sparvero then asked Nye if he’d be comfortable living close to the plant.
He said yes.
“And frankly, we’re gonna have our people who are gonna live and work here, operate this plant,” Nye continued.
Neighbors who addressed commissioners said the closest home to the plant would be within a few hundred feet.
Nye said there are multiple LNG plants in the country that are directly next to neighborhoods.
Resident Bob Wise said some of his neighbors would probably move if the plant were to be built.
“Probably would if they build it like the ones in Louisiana and Texas, and they’re getting bad smells and actually, toxic fumes,” Wise said.
With no decision yet from the port, next, residents can take their concerns to a meeting hosted by the energy companies.
It will be Wednesday night, Feb. 18, at the Cape Canaveral Community Center from 5 - 7 p.m.