Hundreds of residents had their voices heard at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) final public hearing on the Broadwater Energy proposal Thursday night in Shoreham.

The hearing, at Prodell Middle School, came one day after more than a thousand residents packed the Smithtown West Middle School auditorium to voice their opinions on the controversial barge. Broadwater Energy, a joint venture between the Shell Oil and TransCanada companies, plans to build a 1,200-foot liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Long Island Sound, about nine miles off the coast of Wading River. Broadwater representatives say the average annual household energy savings could top $300 with the LNG the barge would bring to the Island.

Opposition to the project has been strong. The Anti-Broadwater Coalition claims the barge would be an eyesore. They say it would serve as a potential environmental hazard and terrorist target, as well as posing a threat to commerce and recreation in the area. Meanwhile, supporters believe the region requires an increased energy supply. They challenged critics to offer an alternative to the Broadwater plan rather than simply rejecting it outright.

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