In response to this post, a reader points out that LNG plants wouldn’t be welcome under T. Boone Picken’s energy plan:

The very last thing T. Boone Pickens recommends is the increased importation of either oil or natural gas. What Pickens proposes is the increased use of wind and solar energy to generate electricity, and the use of the natural-gas diverted from thermal power plants as vehicle fuels instead (either burned directly — in internal-combustion vehicles modified to run on natural gas, a relatively easy conversion; or indirectly — by using natural gas to generate hydrogen for hydrogen-vehicle use). Pickens also recommends greater production of domestic oil and natural gas fuels in addition to expanded generation of alternative electrical energy. But he concludes that drilling alone will not be sufficient to help us in the short run, as it will take years or even decades to make major gains in U.S. oil & gas production. Increased use of domestically produced natural gas would generally rely upon pipeline transport in the gaseous phase, creating fewer NIMBY objections because there will be less LNG transport of imported gas.

Unfortunately, where energy is concerned, NIMBY is fast becoming BANANA — Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody.

Presumably, we’ll need more natural-gas pipelines if every gas station is supposed to offer the stuff (or will we plug into the stove?). There may be fewer objections over gas-phase natural-gas pipelines, but there will still be objections. After all, it only takes one objector with a good lawyer before a sympathetic judge.

I’ve inquired about the Pickens Plan’s vision for additional natural-gas and electricity infrastructure. Will update when I have more information.