noLNG

Do Oregon or Washington need LNG?

Commentary by Gloria G. MacKenzie
For The Daily News

Almost exactly two years ago, The Daily news ran my first commentary (“Let’s not guess with LNG”). I asked if we citizens had a say in the “need” for liquefied natural gas. Without hesitation, the public and its representatives definitely have the right and responsibility to add our 2 cents. (Should that figure be raised in light of every thing else?) This prompts me to correct misconceptions in the editorial of March 17. I will try to simplify some of these complex issues.

More: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/31/readers/doc49cbce553b9f7638821042.prt

Oregon still reviewing conduct of NorthernStar in election

The Oregon Secretary of State continues to investigate whether NorthernStar Natural Gas improperly tried to influence an election involving its proposed gas pipeline in Clatsop County.

More:  http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/30/area_news/doc49d075a78c0d3830049161.txt

The Loss of a Friend.

On March 24, 2009 we, the Friends of the River lost our dear friend DiAnne Knudsen, she was one of the founders of WFOR and  proud of her Native American heritage.

Our thoughts are with her family, we will miss her.

DiAnne E. Knudsen
Cathlamet resident, DiAnne E. Knudsen, 63, passed away March 24, 2009 at her home.
She was born on April 3, 1945 to King Leroy and Helen (Smith) Brothers in Portland, OR. She grew up in Portland and graduated from Madison High School in 1963. She attended Oregon State University and later Lower Columbia College in Longview. In 1987, she came to Cathlamet.
She married Joel Knudsen on Puget Island, in 1990.
DiAnne was a woman of varied interests and passionate beliefs. She was politically active in the Democratic party, her entire life. She was an artist and loved to paint with oils. She was involved in the music industry for many years and wrote the lyrics to “Windy” for the Association. She was dedicated to her family.
She is survived by her husband, Joel Knudsen; daughters, Leise Moffatt and Rachel Paquette; grandchildren, Tia and James Carson; three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many others, whose lives she touched.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m. at Dowling Chapel in Cathlamet. A Social will follow.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, 1055 – 9th Ave, Ste B Longview, WA 98632.
Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Rising to the Challenge.

 “Growing North American production will decrease North America’s need for LNG (liquefied natural gas), triggering changes in projected LNG flows and potentially affecting prices and the viability of projects worldwide.” LNG will remain competitive in North American markets, but will compete more with higher cost conventional supplies than unconventional gas.

For the complete Press Release: http://www.cera.com/aspx/cda/public1/news/pressReleases/pressReleaseDetails.aspx?CID=10179

On Exxon Valdez Anniversary, Nationwide Call for State Authority in LNG Decisions, Natural Gas Export Ban

SAN FRANCISCO - March 23 - On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, a nationwide coalition of over 50 organizations and businesses, representing communities in 10 states, have demanded legislation which would return permitting authority for all Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminals to individual states. The groups also demanded a ban on exporting natural gas produced in the United States. The demands were written in a letter which was sent to members of the Senate Energy Committee. The groups chose to send the letter on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill as a reminder of how poor oversight of coastal energy projects can lead to environmental and economic catastrophes for local communities.

More: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/03/23-6

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   March 19, 2009

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama announced that Jon Wellinghoff, currently serving as Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), will be designated as Chairman. 

FEDS join Oregon lawsuit  against LNG location.

More from the Daily FERC: https://sites.google.com/a/etcinc.biz/etc/Home/Daily-FERC/march-20

Fisheries Service joins Oregon lawsuit against Bradwood Landing

Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:19 PM PDT

By The Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Attorney General John Kroger says the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the  National Marine Fisheries Service, has joined Oregon in appealing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River in Clatsop County.
More: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/19/breaking_news/doc49c2deededfae928679495.txt

Feds to take more time to consider LNG protests

By CASSANDRA PROFITA
The Daily Astorian

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission bought itself more time Monday to consider two requests for rehearing of the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas case.

On Feb. 13, the state of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation both asked FERC, the LNG licensing authority, to reconsider its September approval of the Bradwood LNG facility 20 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River.

More: http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=59260&TM=71864.37

The State of Oregon should also be granted the earlier requested "Emergency Stay", (to save tax payers money)pending the decision of the rehearing. (Blogger)

The door is still open.

FERC Grants Rehearing to Further Consider AES Sparrows Point, Bradwood Landing LNG Projects

Posted: March 17, 2009

Yesterday FERC granted rehearing in both the AES Sparrows Point and Bradwood Landing LNG projects for the "limited purpose of further consideration." A FERC spokesperson told the Baltimore Sun that the orders "keep[] petitions alive for further consideration indefinitely." FERC's orders for AES Sparrows Point and Bradwood Landing are available in the eLibrary under Docket Nos. CP07-62 and CP06-365 respectively.

Response to The Longview Daily News editorial staff.

 As elected representatives of SW Washington, we would like to clarify our participation and the State of Washington ’s approach thus far regarding the pipeline that NorthernStar proposes to run through Cowlitz Countyfrom an LNG terminal at Bradwood , Oregon .  We do not believe that agencies or politicians have been “stalling” LNG development, as your recent editorial suggested.  Rather, the state is simply doing its job to ensure that the project complies with state law.  Elected leaders and state agencies have an obligation to protect its citizens from unnecessary impacts, especially in the wake of a rushed and inadequate FERC review.  It is neither elected officials nor state agencies that are delaying the project, but rather the failure of NorthernStar to address the states’ legitimate concerns and the failure of FERC to conduct a fair review.

 

            We have deep concerns about the impacts of this project on the citizens of our districts, as does Congressman Brian Baird.  We share concerns raised by Governor Gregoireand Governor Kulongoski about the lack of a demonstrated need for LNG in the Northwest, and note that neither Governor has taken a blanket position of opposition to the project.  However, FERC has failed to even raise the basic question of whether we need LNG in the Pacific Northwest .  Oregon ’s Department of Energy concluded we do not. Considering the potential harm caused by LNG pipelines, it is proper to ask whether LNG is necessary. 

 

We are also concerned that the federal government is imposing its will on the State of Washington and ignoring state’s rights that we’ve worked so hard to protect.  The law allows Washington to ensure that all federal permits that affect water quality protect key state resources such as drinking water and fishing.  FERC ignored state’s rights by refusing to consider Washington ’s concerns about the pipeline.

 

            Finally, Bradwood LNG has suffered delays because of frequent, major alterations to its application since the initial approval by FERC. For instance, Bradwood has altered plans for fish protection measures multiple times.  And Bradwood recently proposed to send all of its gas through the Palomar pipeline in Oregon , a pipeline that seems to render the pipeline through Cowlitz County unnecessary.  We are very concerned about the huge amount of taxpayer dollars that are being required to review NorthernStar’s constant changes in this project.  These dollars are coming from county, state, & federal coffers – all of which are increasingly limited in resources during these difficult economic times. 

 

            In conclusion, we remain convinced that the Bradwood project is unnecessary when domestic gas alternatives exist.  We support state agencies that are facing difficult budget cuts - agencies that are working hard to protect the interests of Washington citizens despite an inadequate, haphazard federal LNG siting process.

 

Dean Takko

Brian Blake

Brian Hatfield