Oregonians opposed to LNG and the Palomar Pipeline turned out in big numbers for Thursday’s protest outside the annual meeting of Northwest Natural Gas.
Oregonians opposed to LNG and the Palomar Pipeline turned out in big numbers for Thursday’s protest outside the annual meeting of Northwest Natural Gas.
Since my first post on this rally a week ago, organizers have sent me some new information about what will take place today.
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.
It’s hard to know where to begin.
At the first FERC public hearing about Oregon LNG, property owners unloaded themselves of a long list of complaints about the company, the federal government and how LNG issues are decided.
Don’t expect video coverage of FERC’s meetings in Oregon this week. Video and audio recordings have been banned by the administrative law judge who’s holding the meetings.
Rob Manning of OPB is also here and has checked with his supervisor – apparently FERC is allowed to do that.
I was told that recording video would be “disruptive”. However, FERC is making its own audio recording which it plans to use for creating a written transcript that will be released in about ten days.
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.
An LNG protest sign from FERC's December 2009 field trip in Washington County.
FERC is following through on promises to investigate landowner complaints against Oregon LNG.
The agency has scheduled three public meetings in Oregon this month to give landowners a chance to speak out, and the company a chance to defend itself.
LNG pipeline protesters at a December 2009 rally in Portland.
Although this is listed on my events story of the day, it’s worth a new mention. Oregon DEQ is holding a public meeting tonight in Astoria about the Bradwood Landing LNG project.
Also, I’ve learned a little bit more about the Wyden-Merkley LNG bill.
