Liquid Natural Gas Coming To California

The state Public Utilities Commission voted today to allow liquefied natural gas to be shipped from Mexico through California pipelines for use in Western states.

The P-U-C decided to allow Sempra Energy and Shell to create a border point where L-N-G would move from Mexican to U-S pipelines.

The commission voted against a proposal to delay its vote so the economic and environmental effects can be studied.

Commissioner Susan Kennedy told the San Francisco meeting there´s not a moment to be lost.

L-N-G carries advantages for companies in cost and increased transportation capacity, but it also is extremely volatile.

Nevertheless, several companies have been considering establishing facilities for the fuel in California.

Sempra and Shell have won Mexico´s approval to build a new plant at Costa Azul, about 55 miles south of the border.