What the FERC? Jordan Cove LNG Gets Free Pass

pictureguy/Depositphotos
pictureguy/Depositphotos

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the classic example of a government agency in the hip pocket of the industries it is supposed to regulate. A case in point, as reported in this article in the The Oregonian: Feds say environmental and safety impacts of Jordan Cove LNG terminal in Coos Bay can be mitigated.

As the The Oregonian mentions, with regard to the associated Pacific Connector pipeline:

The Pacific Connector pipeline would cross 400 water bodies, some multiple times. The terminal and pipe would affect 50 acres of wetlands and about 150 miles of forest, including 42 miles of old growth trees. Both the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service would need to significantly amend their land management plans to accommodate the projects and grant rights of way.

How do you mitigate a 150-mile long clearcut?

The DEIS also completely dismisses the effects of the end use of the natural gas transported by this project, parroting the oft-repeated delusion that natural gas is the bridge to a renewable future. There is growing evidence that shale gas, which is what would be exported by this project, and even conventional natural gas, may be as bad as coal when one accounts for the methane leaks in its production, transport, and distribution.

Comments on the DEIS can be submitted here. It is probably worthwhile commenting but I cannot help but think that unless you are an executive or lobbyist from the fossil fuel industries, FERC won’t be listening.