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FERC removes Bradwood LNG project from Thursday agenda

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:00 PM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced Tuesday that it won’t consider NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc.’s proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River this week.

The commission had been expected to discuss plans for the $600 million terminal Thursday, and there was speculation the agency would decide on a permit for the project.

But a FERC spokeswoman said Tuesday the commission will hold off while it reviews letters and comments citizens, government agencies and lawmakers have filed in the past month.

“They’re just taking time to review everything before they make a decision,” FERC spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen said.

Late last week, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski sent a letter to FERC saying the agency’s final environmental impact statement for the NorthernStar project, issued last month, is “fatally flawed and legally deficient.” Kulongoski asked the agency to withdraw the study and issue a more thorough one.

The governor also said the document brushed over important questions about environmental and safety risks. FERC should not issue its permit, he said, until the state decides whether to certify the project under Coastal Zone, clean air and clean water standards.

Kulongoski spokeswoman Jillian Schoene said the governor hopes Tuesday’s decision “is an indication that FERC is finally listening to Oregon’s concerns and is re-evaluating our request for a revised impact statement before moving forward.”

U.S. Reps. David Wu, Peter DeFazio, Darlene Hooley, all Oregon Democrats, as well as Southwest Washington Congressman Brian Baird, also asked FERC to delay its decision.

Young-Allen said she didn’t know if the governor’s or the lawmakers’ demands had prompted FERC to hold off.

NorthernStar spokesman Joe Desmond said his company doesn’t “know the specific reasons for the delay.” But, he said, “It’s important that staff take the necessary time to prepare the final order.”

He also said that, even if FERC does issue a license for the terminal, NorthernStar will have to secure the state permits before it can break ground.

“I certainly hope that FERC will want to respond to the governor’s concerns and provide him the assurance that the state has a significant role to play in this,” Desmond said.

It is unclear when FERC will take up the issue again. Young-Allen said FERC could make its decision at any time, outside the confines of a scheduled meeting.

NorthernStar’s proposed terminal, at Bradwood, Ore., would bring LNG tankers 38 miles up the river, store the gas in two large tanks along the shore, and pump the gas to market through at least one, possibly two, new pipelines. One of the new pipelines would cross Clatsop, Columbia and Cowlitz counties.

Recent related articles:

Kulongoski asks feds to halt decision on LNG  (July 14)

LNG decision near? FERC to meet next week  (July 11)

Baird asks feds to delay Bradwood decision  (June 21)

Clatsop County LNG referendum makes ballot  (June 21)

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Gondolapete wrote on Jul 15, 2008 1:49 PM:

" And people wonder why energy prices are at all time highs...simply amazing.. "

gimpy wrote on Jul 15, 2008 5:00 PM:

" GondolaPete, energy prices are at an all time high because of market manipulation. This whole LNG scheme is designed to line the pockets of the energy companies with more of your money. Do the research, it's frightening! A handful of global companies control our energy supplies and are looking to tighten their grip. It is time to call their bluff and send them back to Texas, where this sort of thing seems to flourish. "

Lance Johnson wrote on Jul 15, 2008 6:56 PM:

" Yeah did you see the news that nautral gas prices are going up 40% now. Thanks to people for fighting against more supply to the USA and meeting market demand. Keep it up you will bankrupt the whole country. "

grams wrote on Jul 15, 2008 7:51 PM:

" come on Lance. Northwest Natural is using reverse psychology here. They want the LNG market. They want the expanded infrastructure. They want to hook up with the realllllly big guys. So, they are going to show us just who is boss... You don't want LNG? You don't believe that gas prices will stay lower with imported LNG? You think domestic gas from within our own country will keep the prices down? Well, lets just show you who is boss. We'll just raise the cost to you NOW! I mean. It works at the gas pumps doesn't it! Does Enron mean anything to you Lance? Does the California energy crisis (you remember that, right?) mean anything to you. Get real here. This is all about control, power, and money, money , money. And to hell with the Pacific Northwest. "

Lance Johnson wrote on Jul 15, 2008 9:29 PM:

" I really dont get you people one bit. Cant do hydropower cause it harms the fish,cant do wind power cause it harms the birds, cant do nuclear beacuse you dont have a reason to oppose it, cant do tidal cause it harms the oceanic life, the list goes on and on. Sometimes progress makes a mess! And unless you want to keep paying crazy prices we had better get to drilling wherever theres resources in this country and improving infastructure any way we can. I agree international energy is a bad deal, but when people in your own country block every idea to be independent you dont have much of a choice. "

crowsfeet wrote on Jul 16, 2008 5:45 AM:

" A little better job of global 'birth control' would help the energy and environmental demands. "

gimpy wrote on Jul 16, 2008 7:16 AM:

" Lance, you're missing the point. We aren't against any of the renewables you named. We realize every source of energy has a "footprint". As to NW Natural raising prices 40%, that is just their threat to make LNG look like a viable alternative. Their timing was impeccable: wait until there is ONE ruling in our favor, then go public with this ruse. But they are not being truthful with the public. There are 4 proposals currently on the table to bring domestic gas from Wyoming to the Northwest, only problem, NW Natural doesn't have control of any of them. They could have bought capacity on at least one of them during the open season bidding, but they'd rather sit here acting like they are the victim. "

philter25 wrote on Jul 16, 2008 7:32 AM:

" Lance makes an interesting point and very valid: "Cant do hydropower cause it harms the fish,cant do wind power cause it harms the birds, cant do nuclear beacuse you dont have a reason to oppose it, cant do tidal cause it harms the oceanic life, the list goes on and on. " ----- That statement is sad but true when it comes to some of the opponents of the project. The same person who complains about the cost for energy and the need for more infrastructure will be against any energy project for whatever reason. And Grams, do you know WHY natural gas prices are going up? The energy companies cant just raise the prices whenever they feel like it. LNG is a global market and is shipped to other countries other than the United States. If there is an issue in a country such as Japan where a nuclear reactor goes down and therefore they need to import LNG to make up that loss in energy, they are going to be willing to pay more for LNG and LNG shippers can raise their prices and ship LNG to Japan, where they are willing to pay a higher prices rather than the united states. There is a lot more to it since its a global market than "because energy companies want to" "

philter25 wrote on Jul 16, 2008 7:41 AM:

" Grams, your conspiracy theory on LNG are a little far fetched.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=a8VBzcRw8uhk&refer=japan

In order for an energy company to raise their prices, there needs to be a need and there needs to be someone willing to pay those prices. If you have a very limited infrastructure, then you are at the mercy of the energy company, like Japan is. If part of your infrastructure goes down, your countries NEED can drive up prices because you HAVE to pay for that amount of energy. You are correct though, its all about money. No one is in business to not make money. However, a company making money can also help out consumers to lower their costs, which is something we as consumers should welcome.

If there is a demand for natural gas and we fight all projects that would increase supply, eventually prices WILL go up and it will be all our faults. The people who complain about the high prices will be the people responsible for the high prices. "

Lance Johnson wrote on Jul 16, 2008 8:24 AM:

" Good debate Gimp, thanks for sticking to the issues and not taking a pot shot at my character for disagreeing with you. There needs to be a little more of that in these forums.Lets just all hope and pray the times in this country get better whoever may be in a role of leadership. Beacuse lets face it, they (every politican R or D) are all out of touch elitists and we are just pawns in their game. The people need to take back this country because its the politicans local,state, and federal running this thing into the ground. "

gimpy wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:06 AM:

" Lance, an open debate is the only way to get all the facts on the table. I join you in hoping that things get better in this country after the election. Let's face it, it can't get much worse! I've been involved in politics all of my adult life, casting my first vote for Bobby Kennedy in the OR primary shortly before he was assassinated. Having lived through the Viet Nam war and the Watergate trials, this is the lowest I've ever felt about my government. "

grams wrote on Jul 16, 2008 5:24 PM:

" Lance, We agree that foreign sources for our energy should be minimized ASAP. In order to do that we are going to have to walk a middle road. The far left and the far right minded people will have to shut up or put up with better ideas or agree to new energy footprints. Wind power needs to be carefully situated out of the migration flight pathes of birds. Wave energy may take up acres of ocean so lets make that part of the ocean a national marine preserve, two good things at once. Solar power works best in sunshine states, and geothermal power is great around the rim of fire. Hydro power one day will not be as essential as now because we will invent new and renewable sources for our energy grids. None of this will happen over night. But, none of this will happen at all if we continue to rely on energy from imported sources. It is amazing how complacent we Americans can be as long as we aren't affected. I am totally against imported LNG! I am not against Alaskan LNG, I am not against domestic natural gas, or oil. I am not against progress or profits. I am against the few huge powers that have controlled this country for far too long and have made more money in one year that ten thousand of us together could make in one lifetime! we have to stop to start! "

grams wrote on Jul 16, 2008 5:44 PM:

" Philter25. The big problem here is one has to crawl before they can walk and we have been in the running mode for years on the wrong energy supply. It's pretty hard to slow down and start over.
Those who don't care , won't. Those who do will. I am afraid I am too old to see the real outcome of this chapter in the book of progress but I hope its subject is about those who held their fingers in the dam while someone else figured out a way to eliminate dams and harness clean, green energies, and even domestic fossil fuel while it lasts And yes the big picture is always about conspiracy. Do you know the real history of the last energy crisis and why Sempra ended up paying only millions rather than billions for their part in it? It's a game kiddo. Nice chatting with you. "

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