Around 400 Richmond residents signed a petition against plans to expand a liquified natural gas (LNG) storage facility in Delta.
The Wilderness Committee’s petition was given to Richmond-Steveston MLA Kelly Greene, which was presented on March 7 in the B.C. legislature.
Residents are hoping the provincial government will oppose the Tilbury marine jetty project on the Fraser River where it plans to expand into a major export and refueling hub.
The $3 to $3.5 billion Phase 2 expansion in Delta will include a new marine jetty and a 12-fold increase in production capacity.
“Richmond is across the water from Tilbury LNG and it poses serious health and safety risks to its residents,” said Peter McCartney, spokesperson for the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee.
“Nobody we talked to wants to see more damage to the Fraser River and more climate pollution driving extreme weather events.”
If the project is approved, tankers and barges transporting super-cooled gas would be seen travelling along the Fraser River, and the facility would export about 3.5 tonnes of LNG per year, according to McCartney.
“While the City of Richmond has long opposed the Tilbury LNG expansion, growing opposition among its residents should give the provincial government the push it needs to reject the project,” said McCartney.
“Hopefully they will listen to the hundreds of people who are calling on them through their local representatives to protect the Fraser River and the global climate.”
Municipalities including Richmond, New Westminster and Port Moody, along with local environmental groups have opposed the project, citing potential danger to salmon habitat in the Fraser River Estuary and the risk of accidents and spills with liquefied natural gas (LNG) just across the river from the jet fuel tank farm.
-with files from Vikki Hui, Maria Rantanen and Chuck Chiang
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