Letter to Gov. Kulongoski, Treasurer Edwards, our Utilities & Congress People

To the Honorable Governor Kulongoski & others who it may concern (hard copies have been sent),

I am writing this letter in opposition to the proposed Liquid Natural Gas terminals in Oregon. I work on Weds., Feb. 6, so am unable to attend the rally against LNG & thought I’d send my protest via mail.

To build a pipeline, some of it must go through private lands. Conservatives bitch when the government uses Eminent Domain to cheaply buy land; yet this is exactly what the energy companies want to do for the LNG pipeline. And Bush’s energy bill from 2005 would allow it, while the State of Oregon & local governments would have little say in the matter. That is not okay! This is our state! The Feds & OUTSIDE corporations should not be able to override local, state decisions.

California decided they didn’t want to build these terminals in their own state. They don’t want to mar their beautiful state; not when they can get it from their nearest neighbor (just like they do so much of their water).

Why should Oregon have the UGLY terminals & the pipeline in our beautiful state? Why should we destroy our ocean front, estuaries and other natural areas (possibly even having to build more roads in formerly roadless areas of our mountains, which you have saved in the past)? If California wants & needs more LNG, let them find another way to get it.

Oregon citizens will not benefit financially or even get to use the bulk of the energy from the LNG terminals.

Another worry is that the energy companies aren’t going to add the rotten egg scent the gas, so if there’s a leak, we’re not going to know about it until it’s too late. And much of the pipeline will be going through earthquake country, which would increase the risk of leaks.

No precaution or risk assessment can guarantee safety in case of accident, earthquake, or terrorism. According to documents from the California Energy Commission in July 2003, "an ignited LNG vapor cloud or large LNG pool fire can cause extensive damage to life and property.”

And what happens if it spills into our waterways? According to Professor Jerry Havens, a chemical engineer and director of the Chemical Hazards Research Center at the University of Arkansas who helped write federal standards for estimating the size and intensity of fires involving LNG: “if about 3 million gallons of LNG spills onto the water from an LNG tanker ship, flammable vapors from the spill could travel up to 3 miles."

Even the National Marine Fisheries Service urges the U.S. Army corps of Engineers to deny the permit for the Bradwood Landing project near Astoria. In the letter, Tehan outlined seven reasons to deny the permit, including discrepancies between NorthernStar's project descriptions and the Corps' public notice, as well as possible threats to fish habitats posed by the dredging. The NMFS letter is available in the FERC eLibrary under Docket No. CP06-365.

You want to make Oregon a leader in following the Kyoto Protocols and reducing our greenhouse admissions. LNG will only increase our emissions of CO2. How do you propose to counter balance those emissions from the LNG terminals?

There are better alternatives, both economically and environmentally.

Wind generators are LESS EXPENSIVE and FASTER to build than LNG terminals, coal-fired, or nuclear power generators. Not to mention that windmills are clean and the wind is in no danger of being used up. Then there’s solar power. And who knows what other possibilities haven’t even been invented yet.

Oregon should be a leader in conserving our natural resources & looking for renewable utility options for our future (such as wind turbines). We must think of our children & our children’s Children.

There are no benefits to allowing LNG terminals & pipelines here in Oregon. I hope you change your mind about your support of LNG. Please don’t issue permits for projects that are not needed in Oregon & that won’t benefit our State. Let’s be true to our green & forward thinking, pioneering spirit.

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Friends who feel as I do, if you can, attend the Rally (information to follow). If not, write or call your representatives in the State & National level.

Rally Information:
Wednesday, February 6th-
Rally and Lobby Day - NO LNG (Liquidified Natural Gas ) IN OREGON
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Capitol Steps, Salem

SPEAKERS, MUSIC, and INFORMATION
Join people from around the state in protesting the imposition of a corporate agenda on the people and public lands in Oregon. Liquified Natural Gas proposals in Oregon (at Astoria, Columbia River, & Coos Bay) threaten the livelihoods and lives of citizens throughout the state and there never has been a good reason given for it. The gas is destined for the California market where the gas
industry has been rebuffed at every turn to put a facility on their coast.
The resulting pipeline to California (where most of the gas is destined) will use eminent domain to acquire the right of way from reluctant landowners. Using LNG will only delay the necessary changes away from fossil fuels that are absolutely necessary to respond to the global warming problem. Final siting decisions are made by the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency whose members are personally appointed by George Bush and Dick Cheney.

NO LOCAL DECISIONS ARE ALLOWED TO HALT THIS PROCESS AND EMINENT DOMAIN IS THEFT TO ENABLE CORPORATE PROFITS. JOIN US TO LOBBY YOUR LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR IN OREGON TO DEMAND THEY REFUSE TO UTILIZE PUBLIC RESOURCES TO AID THIS PROCESS. TELL THEM TO DEMAND SOVEREIGNTY OVER OREGON.

For more information: email nolngrally@verizon.net

The rally is sponsored by: Ratepayers for Affordable Clean Energy (RACE), Oregon chapter Sierra Club, Pacific Green Party of Oregon, F.L.O.W., Oregon Wild, Citizens Against LNG, Landowners and Citizens for a Safe Community, Columbia River Keeper, and many others.