Florida governor OKs Port Dolphin Energy deepwater port LNG project

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has approved Port Dolphin Energy’s deepwater port project that would supply natural gas to Florida.
As part of the federal permitting process, Crist is required to support, oppose or say he takes no position for the proposed liquid natural gas receiving terminal, a release said.
Port Dolphin plans to build a deepwater port in the Gulf of Mexico 28 miles west of Manatee County. Tankers would dock at the port and link up with a liquid natural gas pipeline that transports gas to Port Manatee and then inland, eventually connecting with the state’s natural gas pipeline grid.
The project is expected to generate more than $150 million in direct economic impact to Port Manatee and Manatee County during the next 20 years, the release said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2011.