A brief summary of the BIG ENERGY backed LNG projects currently being
proposed in Oregon.
This imported foreign fossil fuel is to be piped through Oregon to OTHER energy markets (CALIFORNIA).
If we are unable to stop these projects, the Federal Agency tasked with approving them (FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) WILL approve them.
FERC approves every BIG ENERGY project that is submitted to them.
We are opposed to the development of LNG import/export terminals in Oregon for a number of reasons. At present, there is no market need to warrant the construction of these terminals. Natural gas bought here in the States over the past two years has traded at one-fourth to one-half the price of the LNG international market price. Oregon consumers would certainly not see any benefit from importing higher-priced gas than what’s available here. Also, these terminals could be modified to export American natural gas to the global LNG market, forcing Oregon utilities and their consumers to pay rates competitive with more-expensive overseas markets.
This international connection would not serve any local energy needs, as Oregon’s natural gas supply already outstrips its demand, but terminals could significantly drive up Oregon’s natural gas prices. In either direction, the flow of natural gas through Oregon to the international market is likely to significantly increase prices for consumers. Economic analysis aside, LNG import terminals are an undesirable option for a much more basic reason; the health and safety of our community.
LNG terminals have the potential to cause substantial environmental damage through gas leakages and increased CO 2 emissions from tankers and conversion processes.
LNG import terminals have no place in Oregon. According to a recent Oregon Department of Energy Review, our state already has access to plenty of low-cost domestic natural gas.
Oregon could get more at a lower cost than imported LNG with a new pipeline from the Rocky mountains. Imported LNG only runs the risk of increasing energy costs and environmental damage.
Let’s help keep Oregon a place that promotes safe, low-cost, and environmentally conscious energy development, and say no to LNG.
LNG – Why are we talking about LNG here in Oregon?
November 18, 2007
Two high pressure unscented natural gas (imported regasified LNG) pipelines
and two foreign LNG import terminals with regasification facilities are now
planned for north western Oregon. These two pipelines will run from these two
large LNG import terminals on the Columbia River near Astoria through our homes,
yards, farms, timber, fields, orchards, and other beloved land. Our land will be
taken by these private energy corporations through the use of eminent domain.
There are currently three different proposed projects in northwestern Oregon
along the Columbia River and one in Coos Bay on the Southern Oregon coast.
to view larger image
Project I
Bradwood Landing LNG
Northern Star Natural Gas LNG, a Texas-based company that has never built a
terminal or pipeline, has proposed the Bradwood Landing LNG receiving terminal
and regasification plant on 55 acres of a 420-acre site at Bradwood, located
between Astoria and Clatskanie at about River Mile 38 on the Columbia River. The
facility would be designed to have a peak sendout capacity of 1.3 billion cubic
feet per day of natural gas and would be capable of continuous operation.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has already reviewed their
draft environmental impact statement and issued the opinion that the project
would have limited significant environmental impacts, posing no unacceptable
environmental problems. On August 29, the Clatsop County Planning Commission
recommended approval of all the land use changes needed to build the terminal,
against the recommendation of County Planning staff. The Clatsop County
commission is now considering these changes. They met on November 7, 2007 and
will continue discussing at a November 19 follow-on meeting and will make a
final decision after conclusion of their hearing on this topic.
The proposed project also includes a 34-mile long pipeline that would run
from the site to Port Westward and then under the Columbia River (crossing Puget
Island) into Kelso, Washington and would connect to N/S pipelines supplying
Washington and Oregon. This project has been under review for approx. 18 months
at this time (Nov. 2007).
Project II
Palomar
Palomar is a joint venture of NW Natural Gas and TransCanada, which already
operates the main international/interstate North / South Natural Gas pipeline
going from Canada to northern California. The Palomar pipeline (phase 2) would
transport imported regasified LNG from the proposed Bradwood Landing LNG import
terminal 11 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River. This 1500 psi pipeline
will be 36 inches / 3 feet wide and would travel about 110 miles from the
terminal to Molalla and from there another 110 miles east to Maupin Oregon
(Wasco County) to connect to the large interstate TransCanada pipeline to feed
California. The pipeline would run through the Coast Range to the Timber area,
along Timber Road to Glenwood, through Gales Creek Valley, passing just west of
Forest Grove to Gaston through rural Yamhill, Marion, and Clackamas Counties
before ending in Molalla. If the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal is not built, the
east half of the pipeline, from Molalla to Maupin (phase 1), could still be
built as a new route to bring gas into the Willamette Valley. Both phases are
under one project at this time. A FERC meeting for the proposed Palomar pipeline
(intent for project filing was initiated for the EIS Environmental Impact
Statement) Oregon LNG project was conducted along the route Nov. 12-15, 2007,
where many landowners shared their concerns with the project representative.
Project III
Oregon LNG
A second LNG terminal, regasification plant and pipeline have been proposed by
Oregon LNG (owned by Leucadia Corporation group of investors based in New York),
and is in competition with (both could be built) the NorthernStar terminal at
Bradwood Landing. Oregon LNG was formerly the Skipanon Natural Gas Facility
owned by Calpine, which went bankrupt and sold the project to Oregon LNG in
January, 2007. Their terminal and processing plant would be in Warrenton, Oregon
near Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia river. The site is already leased and
zoned for the facility. This would also be 36 inch a high pressure 1500 psi
pipeline transporting unscented imported regasified LNG through Oregon to
California. The pipeline would travel on a 117-mile route approximately parallel
to the Palomar pipeline although, rather than going through Timber, it would go
along Ridge and Strassel Roads and then through Glenwood, Gales Creek Valley,
Forest Grove, Gaston, and cross rural Yamhill, Clackamas, and Marion Counties,
on its way to the transfer station in Molalla. The two pipelines would be only 1
2 miles or less apart for most of the route, and their proposed locations are
identical in some areas. A meeting about the Oregon LNG project was conducted by
FERC in Forest Grove on September 19, 2007 for project filing was initiated for
the pre-EIS phase of the project. At the meeting many citizens eloquently
expressed their anger about the project and the damage it would do to their
land, their property value, their livelihoods, and their communities.
The only reason to build the western half of the Palomar pipeline is to
connect the Bradwood terminal to the TransCanada pipeline so that most of its
gas can go to California. As noted above, NorthernStar already plans for a
pipeline through Kelso to supply the Northwest, so the Palomar pipeline is not
needed for that purpose. Northwest Natural Gas has indicated that it would buy
only 1/10th of the output of the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal, and has stated
that it could not support the Palomar pipeline by itself without other customers
(that is, California energy companies). California has already rejected five
proposed LNG import terminals. The Oregon pipelines are an end run to supply our
more populous southern neighbor, because we are considered an easier target with
less organized opposition.
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