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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 18, 2022<\/p>\n CONTACT: <\/strong><\/p>\n Maig Tinnin, Rogue Climate, maig@rogueclimate.org,<\/a> 541-852-2496 <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>Grassroots Coalition Vows to Oppose GTN XPress Fracked Gas Project After FERC Issues <\/strong>FERC Downplays Concerns of States, Tribes, and Community Groups in Final Environmental Review<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/span><\/a>[Washington, DC]<\/strong> —\u00a0Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released the<\/span> Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) <\/span><\/a>for the proposed GTN XPress<\/a> fracked gas pipeline expansion. The project, which would significantly increase the flow of fracked gas through the Northwest, faces fierce opposition from a grassroots coalition of communities along the pipeline, climate advocates, tribal members, health professionals, and communities across Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Members of a regional coalition comprising dozens of community groups immediately condemned FERC\u2019s short-sighted analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n FERC\u2019s analysis failed to resolve deep-seated concerns from states, tribes, and community groups about the broader impacts of the project, including its conflict with state climate goals and failure to address upstream methane emissions from the harmful practice of fracking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “In this time of climate crisis it is crucial that we prioritize people over profits,” said <\/span>Rev. AC Churchill, Executive Director of Earth Ministry\/Washington Interfaith Power & Light<\/b>. “It is unjust for communities all along the pipeline to bear the economic and health burden of increased fracked gas from this project, especially given <\/span>the lack of consultation<\/span><\/a> with Native Nations and minimal public engagement in the EIS process.”<\/span><\/p>\n The project has been heavily criticized by the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, who have decried FERC\u2019s lack of consultation as well as the climate and health impacts of the pipeline. In August, they wrote a full <\/span>comment letter to FERC<\/span><\/a> outlining deficiencies in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.<\/span><\/p>\n Most people near the pipeline and compressor stations don\u2019t even know about the expansion,\u201d says <\/span>Diane Hodiak, executive Director of 350 Deschutes<\/b>. \u201cThere has been a near-total lack of opportunity for public engagement. It is being rapidly pushed with little room for input from the people who will be affected. With the rise in energy prices, ratepayers certainly don’t want to be on the hook for more price increases for the cost of infrastructure.\u201d<\/span> \u201cOregon\u2019s largest County <\/span>just issued a report <\/span><\/a>recommending against using fracked gas in homes because of its harms to public health,\u201d said <\/span>David De La Torre, Hea<\/b>lthy Climate Program Director of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibi<\/b>lity<\/b>. \u201cPushing more health-harming fracked gas into our region may be in the interests of fossil fuel corporations, but it is contrary to the public interest and protecting people\u2019s health.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The proposed expansion of the Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) pipeline, <\/span>a subsidiary of <\/span>TC Energy, would transport approximately 150 million cubic feet per day of additional methane gas from Canada for sale in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. FERC previously found the project would emit approximately 3.24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, for at least the next 30 years. This is equivalent to adding 754,000 cars on the road each year until 2052. Experts and <\/span>over 1,000 commenters from across the region<\/span><\/a> warned that FERC\u2019s estimates are too low, and that the real climate impact would be far greater.<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/strong>Audrey Leonard, Columbia Riverkeeper, audrey@columbiariverkeeper.org<\/a>, 541-399-4775<\/span><\/p>\n
A Final Environmental Impact Statement <\/b><\/p>\n
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<\/span>“From wildfires to droughts, Columbia River communities increasingly experience climate change impacts. That’s why West Coast states are united in opposition to GTN’s expansion plans,” said <\/span>Lauren Goldberg, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper.<\/b> “FERC’s approach will worsen the climate crisis, downplaying the impacts of a proposal that will pollute our communities, impact health and safety, and create millions of tons of climate-changing pollution each year.”<\/span><\/p>\n