3435 Wilshire Boulevard                                                                        

Suite 320                                                                                             

Los Angeles, CA  90010-1904                                                                

IMMEDIATE                          For more information, contact:

                                                Jack Prichett, Sierra Club       Tom Politeo, Sierra Club

                                                310.895.4747 (cell)                 562.618.1127

                                                jackprichett@comcast.net      sc5@politeo.net

Famed Author and Social Advocate, Dr. Helen Caldicott, to Speak May 22

in San Pedro Opposing Proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Terminals

Loretta Lynch, former head of California Public Utilities Commission, and Capt. Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, will join Caldicott to highlight the growing LNG controversy.  All are available for media interviews prior to May 22 event.

Los Angeles, Calif., May 5, 2005—Energy and utility companies propose to build three liquefied natural gas plants in southern California, including one in busy Long Beach harbor, to enable huge tanker ships to unload and process imported LNG.  But famed environmentalist and social advocate Dr. Helen Caldicott is having none of it. 

“LNG is not the path that the United States should be pursuing.  In fact, LNG would actually increase, rather than decrease, the U.S.’ dependence on foreign suppliers of fossil fuels,” says Dr. Caldicott, a passionate advocate of citizen action to protect the environment. “Furthermore, LNG would detract—at great financial cost—from the real need, which is to promote energy conservation and develop sustainable energy sources such as solar power.”

On Sunday, May 22, Dr. Caldicott will speak, along with Loretta Lynch, former head of the California Public Utilities Commission, and Capt. Paul Watson, founder of SeaShepherd, to raise money for groups opposing the proposed LNG terminals.  The event, called PowerPlay, is expected to fill the 1,500-seat Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro.  Speakers will focus on the dangers of LNG terminals and the fact that much of the multimillion dollar costs to build them could end up raising Californians’ utilities bills.

Controversy surrounds California’s three proposed LNG plants because of the danger in handling and storing LNG.  In 2004, a large explosion at an LNG plant in Algeria killed at least 27 people and shut operations at several adjacent facilities, including a refinery and oil loading terminals.  Experts have also identified LNG plants and tankers as attractive targets for terrorists.

LNG is simply the same natural gas (but without odor) many Californians use in their stoves and to heat their homes.  At overseas plants the gas would be supercooled to turn it into a liquid for tanker shipping.  At the proposed LNG terminals it would be re-converted into gas and fed into pipelines for distribution to customers. 

Building the tankers and the plants will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.  The California Public Utility Commission is expected to rule this year on whether to authorize energy companies seeking to build into their rate structure - the costs of  constructing the LNG plants and infrastructure.  The effect of this “rate-based” approach would be to pass along the companies’ development costs to consumers.

“I believe that LNG is not necessary to meet California’s energy needs and, moreover, will crowd out development of renewable energy sources,” says Loretta Lynch, former head of the California Public Utilities Commission.  “I also oppose the federal government’s assertion exclusive jurisdiction over siting of LNG plants.  No state is more familiar with earthquake safety reviews than California and, by blocking the state from making its own analyses and evaluations, the federal government increases the risk to surrounding communities.”

Joining the Sierra Club as sponsors of the May 22 fundraiser are Earth Resource Foundation; the Surfrider Foundation; California Earth Corps; and Eco-Link.   A street fair, featuring booths and displays highlighting alternative energy sources and roving entertainers, will take place on the street outside the Warner Grand Theater

For additional information on the speakers, LNG issues, and the May 22 PowerPlay program, go to www.milliontomorrows.org. 

Location: Warner Grand Theater, 478 W. 6^th Street, San Pedro, Calif.

Date & Time: Caldicott program begins at 2:00 PM; street fair from

10:30 AM to 1:30 PM

To arrange telephone or in-person interviews with Dr. Caldicott, Ms. Lynch, or Capt. Watson, contact Jack Prichett at 310.895.4747 or jackprichett@comcast.net.

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