Anti-LNG protesters at a news conference earlier this month. Photo by Dennis Newman.
The day after the “big news”, Oregon’s anti-LNG coalition was confident and looking ahead to the next fight against LNG in Oregon.
“A great day for salmon”. “A huge victory for Oregon families”. This is how they described the news that work on the Bradwood Landing LNG project was being suspended, and that the company behind it was filing for bankruptcy.
LNG Protesters at a rally outside Portland City Hall. Photo by Dennis Newman.
At the final round of FERC LNG Hearings in Oregon, we heard again from landowners frustrated with a system they see as secretive, intimidating, and stacked against them.
We also heard from officials with Oregon LNG and their contractors who were at times apologetic, but mostly defended how they’ve conducted themselves.
As far as these kinds of things go, this was one happy news conference.
LNG opponents were celebrating their newest legal victory – a ruling by Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals to reject plans for the Bradwood Landing LNG project in Clatsop County.
The ruling probably isn’t a fatal blow. But it’s given LNG opponents new confidence that they can block Bradwood Landing, and all other plans for LNG in Oregon.
For the second time, Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals has rejected Clatsop County’s approval of the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal.
It’s no surprise that Brett VandenHeuvel of Columbia Riverkeeper is pleased with the new Wyden-Merkley bill that would return decision making over LNG projects back to the states.
Columbia Riverkeeper is one of the main groups opposing two proposed LNG projects near Astoria – Bradwood Landing and Oregon LNG. It’s also involved in efforts to block two pipelines that would connect the terminals to the interstate gas pipeline system.
But in our conversation today, some very interesting questions came up about just how easy it might become to stop all LNG projects in Oregon, if the bill becomes law.
The fight over the Bradwood Landing LNG project enters a new phase as all sides get ready for arguments before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
No court date has been set yet. But an important deadline just passed as some of the the groups suing to stop Bradwood filed legal briefs with the court. The documents give us some new insights into why they want the appeals court to just say “no” to Bradwood Landing.
One thing’s for sure, if landowners along the route of the proposed Oregon LNG pipeline in were trying to get FERC’s attention, it worked.
Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced it will schedule a series of town meetings in Northwest Oregon to hear from landowners who are unhappy with the behavior of Oregon LNG employees and contractors during a recent field trip.
With any project this big and this controversial, there are bound to be complaints. But FERC spokesman Sarah McKinley says it’s “pretty unusual” for the agency to take this kind of action.
An LNG tanker at sea. Photo from www.lngoneworld.com.
UPDATE: LC 85 made it out of committee and has been introduced as SB 1020.
If you want to see how LNG issues divide and energize Oregonians, then take a look at two bills the legislature will consider next month.
One makes it easier to LNG companies to get some of the permits they need to build plants and pipelines. The other says, “Wait a minute! Shouldn’t we decide if these projects are really needed?”
If past fights are any indication of how strongly people feel about these issues, then things could get ugly.
A coalition of environmental groups is holding two meetings starting this weekend to talk about what’s going on with the Jordan Cove LNG project. It’s been almost seven months since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its final Environmental Impact Statement, so a ruling on the project could come soon.
Recently I wrote about a letter campaign to pressure FERC into making a decision this week. But FERC put it off for at least another month.
In addition to the proposed LNG plant near Coos Bay, the plan also includes the Pacific Connector Pipeline. This 234 mile pipeline crosses Coos, Douglas, and Jackson counties and into Klamath County near the town of Malin. It will connect the LNG plant to the interstate gas pipeline system.
The groups sponsoring the meetings are Citizens Against LNG, Columbia Riverkeeper, Rogue Riverkeeper and Umpqua Watersheds.
Here are the details:
Sunday, November 22
Monday, November 23
For more information on both events:
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
Or call 541-488-5789
