LNG Update – April 24

A hearing was held on HB 2015 on April 16. Unfortunately, the time was dominated by testimony and legislative questioning of a representative of Texas-based NorthernStar Natural Gas, which is seeking permission to build the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal along the Columbia River and the Palomar pipeline across the Mt. Hood National F orest. Though the room was packed with both opponents and proponents of HB 2015, there was very limited time allowed for public testimony.

After this hearing, and to the great disappointment of LNG opponents who supported HB 2015, Sustainability Committee Chair Tobias Read declined to continue public hearings on the bill or put it to the committee for a vote, potentially killing this legislation for the session.

Now, the major effort on LNG in the Oregon legislature has shifted to HB 3058, a bill to allow LNG companies to apply for wetland fill removal permits before getting permission from landowners, in order to speed the process of building LNG pipelines across Oregon’s farms, forests and rivers.

With three LNG companies proposing to build roughly 600 miles of pipelines that include dozens, if not hundreds, of wetland, river and stream crossings, HB 3058 would be a major step backwards.

HB 3058 has a final vote in the House Sustainaibility Committee on Tuesday, April 28 at noon. Click here to send an email to your state Representative in opposition to HB 3058.

LNG Bill set for hearing

HB 2015, the LNG Public Protection Act, is up for its first public hearing in the Oregon Legislature on Thursday, April 16.

Your help is needed to make sure the House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee passes this bill. Send a quick email to your legislature in support of HB 2015 by clicking here.

LNG is different from domestic natural gas. Its 20 – 30% more greenhouse gas intensive, and it would be imported from far way, and sometimes unfriendly, places like Russia, Qatar and Iran.

Oregon is currently threatened by three proposed LNG import terminals and hundreds of miles of pipelines that would cross high value farmland, forests and dozens of rivers and streams. The Palomar pipeline would cut a 47-mile swath across the Mt. Hood National Forest including the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River, the Deschutes River, and Fish Creek, recently designated as Wild and Scenic by the Omnibus Public Lands Act signed into law by President Obama.  LNG pipelines have proven highly controversial among local citizens and goverments.

Its time for Oregon to stand up for itself in the debate over LNG by passing HB 2015.

Coal – Oregon’s Dirty Little Secret

Nearly 40% of Oregon’s power comes from coal, which is more than both Washington and California. We pride ourselves on being green and sustainable, yet we still rely on dirty 19th century methods to power our communities. Oregon has long been a leader on environmental issues and now that we face the most important challenge of our lifetime, Global Warming, we must lead the nation towards a clean energy future.

This is about the future of our children, our beloved wild spaces and our planet. We must take responsibility for our destructive energy use and begin to move beyond coal. If Oregon can break from the shackles of Big Coal, then we can lead the entire Northwest towards a renewable energy future that protects our communities’ health and strengthens our economy.

There is no better time than now. With President Obama we can make strides we thought were never possible. Investors, government, and the public alike are realizing that coal is not only destructive, it also doesn’t make economic sense. Now we have the opportunity to end our reliance on dirty coal power by becoming more energy efficient, and investing in clean, renewable wind and solar power.

Oregon can lead the Northwest towards a clean energy future by first replacing the Boardman Coal Plant which spews out 5 million tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) every year, and second, by stopping the importation of 20% of our power from dirty coal-producing states. We have an opportunity to both reduce our dependence on coal-fired power and launch a more prosperous economy in Oregon through long term, sustainable jobs that will lead the Northwest region in clean, renewable electricity generation.

We need you to help us realize our goal of a Coal-Free Oregon! Cesia Kearns and Robin Everett are the lead organizers for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. To get involved, contact Robin Everett at robin.everett@sierraclub.org or call (503) 238-0442 x307.

Omnibus Lands Bill Signed Into Law

 After years of being stalled and delayed, all your hard work has paid off and we finally have reason to celebrate: the omnibus public lands bill was signed into law on Monday by President Obama.

H.R. 146 The Omnibus Public Land Management Act passed its final hurdle in the House of Representatives last Wednesday by a vote of 285-140. The large package of over 160 bills will designate more than 2 million acres as wilderness. Much of this is in California but significant plots are also in Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, New Mexico, and Michigan. It is easily the most important lands protection legislation in decades.

We cannot thank you enough for all the tireless work and support without which this historic win would not have been possibleAmericans now have more protected lands and rivers, more places to explore, and wildlife has more space and ability to adapt to the warming climate. The Sierra Club’s own Director of the Lands Protection Program Athan Manuel was invited to the White House to witness the President sign the bill into law.