Downeast LNG | Press Release

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dean Girdis - 202-557-0594

August 19, 2005

or Ted O'Meara - 207-791-1461

Leading Washington County Economic Development Group Announces Support For Downeast LNG

Sunrise County Economic Council Cites Positive Community Impact, Lack of Environmental Harm, and Stakeholder Involvement as Keys to its Support

ROBBINSTON, Maine – Downeast LNG’s proposal to build an LNG import terminal that delivers clean and safe energy to Maine and New England has won the support of the Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC), Washington County’s leading economic development organization. The group said that the Downeast LNG’s project will, among other things, bring significant economic development to a region in need of economic diversity and not harm the important local fishery in Washington County.

In a letter to Downeast LNG president Dean Girdis, SCEC executive director Dianne Tilton wrote, ”We strongly support your project, and are excited about the economic potential it offers for the region.” Tilton specifically cited the project’s positive economic and community impact, as well as Downeast LNG’s efforts to seek and respond to public input as reasons her organization was supporting the proposal. Tilton goes on to state, “The record of Downeast LNG’s principals and investors gives us confidence that the project will be well planned, professionally executed and ultimately successful.”

Girdis said that his team has worked hard to keep the people of Robbinston and Washington County involved in every facet of the project, and that he is pleased with the announcement. “To have the support of such a well-respected local organization is very important to Downeast LNG,” Girdis said. “We have said from the beginning that this project is about more than just building a state of the art, environmentally safe LNG import terminal. It’s about forming a real and lasting partnership with the people of Robbinston and Washington County.”

SCEC’s letter of support outlined stringent criteria that need to be met before the organization lends its support to economic development projects. “As eager as we are to promote jobs in the region, we do not wish to advance projects that would harm the environment, or our communities,” the letter says. “It does not appear at this time that your facility will have a negative impact on fisheries in the region. We are satisfied that you are committed to working through any potential problems that do arise. Local, state and other taxes will be paid by Downeast LNG that will benefit residents in Robbinston, and in turn the rest of Washington County residents by lowering county taxes. Since you have committed to reimburse local and county government for services needed by your facility, we do not believe taxes will increase as a direct result of your project.”

Girdis said that project would be built on an 80–acre site on the south side of Mill Cove, near where the St. Croix River meets the Passamaquoddy Bay. He said that the site has excellent technical characteristics so that any impact on the environment will be minimized and added that the project will meet or exceed every government safety and security requirement.

The project will create about 300 construction jobs over the three-years it will take to build the facility. Eventually, there will be about 45 to 50 supervisory, technical and maintenance jobs at the facility. Downeast LNG will provide up to $500,000 annually to communities of eastern Washington County to support economic development activity once it is fully operational.

Girdis, a former Peace Corps volunteer who has 17 years of experience in economic and energy development, founded Downeast LNG last year. Robert Wyatt, an environmental consultant who has worked on permitting major projects in 39 states and several foreign countries, serves as director of environmental affairs.

The project’s financial backers are Kestrel Energy Partners LLC, an oil and gas private equity investment firm based in New York. Kestrel Energy and Dean Girdis are the only owners of the project.

The site of the proposed LNG terminal in Robbinston is approximately 22 miles from the natural gas pipeline that run from eastern Canada through the state of Maine. The SCEC initiates and facilitates the creation of prosperity and jobs in Washington County. The grassroots organization gets its leadership and inspiration from local people, and is committed to providing whatever assistance is necessary to achieve success. Its Board of Directors represents key industry sectors, education, health care, legislative leadership, and municipal, county and Tribal Government.

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