Natural-gas terminal proposed off Orange County

A small energy company is the latest to propose a liquefied natural gas terminal in Southern California, detailing a plan Wednesday for two floating platforms about 10 miles southwest of Huntington Beach.

As envisioned by Esperanza Energy, a subsidiary of Tidelands Oil and Gas Corp. of San Antonio, the terminals would be located in 1,100 feet of water, among a set of existing oil platforms. The facility, to be called Port Esperanza, would transform the super-chilled liquid fuel back into vapor and then pump it ashore through pipelines.

The proposal comes six weeks after Long Beach officials pulled the plug on plans for an $800-million natural gas terminal in the Port of Long Beach after safety concerns proved insurmountable. Sound Energy Solutions, a partnership with ConocoPhillips and Mitsubishi Corp. that is proposing the port terminal, last month sued to force the Long Beach Harbor Board of Commissioners to revive the project.

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