A decision is expected this week from New York’s Department of State on Shell’s proposal to build a floating liquified natural gas terminal nine miles off the coast of Long Island.

If the Broadwater project is approved, Connecticut’s Attorney General Richard Blumentahal promises legal action that could drag on for years.

As an alternative, he has been recommending ExxonMobil’s BlueOcean Energy, a $1 billion floating LNG terminal proposed for construction 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey.

Blumenthal says that, in addition to being invisible from land, BlueOcean Energy would be located in an area where “there’s already a great deal of dumping of garbage,” rather than an area that has been classified as an estuary of national importance—the (Long Island) Sound.”

He also argues that BlueOcean Energy would be a less tempting target for terrorists.“No one’s going to blow up a terminal 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey, but would be delighted to strike a terminal 9 miles away from two of the most densely populated areas in the region,” he said.

The Fairfield Weekly’s Daniel D’Ambrosio explores both sides of the controversy.

For a more opinionated view of the Broadwater project, check out:
Is the Sound up for sale? It’s the latest blog posting on the subject from Denise Civiletti, the Co-publisher and Executive Editor of Times/Review Newspapers Corp. which publishes “four award-winning community newspapers” on the East End of Long Island.