FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 10, 2020
CONTACT:
Allie Rosenbluth, allie@rogueclimate.org, 541-816-2240
Jordan Cove LNG Faces Major Financial, Permitting, and Legal Hurdles
The Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline still faces significant roadblocks, despite second quarter results released by Pembina on Friday.
Last week, two members of Oregon’s federal delegation, US Senator Jeff Merkley and US Representative Peter Defazio, made remarks suggesting Jordan Cove LNG will not be moving forward:
On Saturday, August 1, The Coos Bay World Newspaper reported that US Representative Peter DeFazio, who previously supported the project until releasing a statement of opposition this December, felt the Jordan Cove LNG project was “deader than a doornail.”
On Monday, August 3, Axios published an exclusive interview about the project with US Senator Jeff Merkley. “It’s not going to be built,” Senator Merkley said in the interview “I’ve talked to a whole number of folks — several people who have been deeply involved in international finance of energy projects — and they don’t believe that the company can lock down the sales needed to justify the $6 billion investment.”
On July 18, Jordan Cove LNG faced another major permitting setbackwhen the Oregon Landuse Board of Appeals reversed the City of North Bend’s approval of a local land use permit required for dredging in Coos Bay. There are several other land use permit challenges pending before the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals that are likely to be decided over the coming months.
Pembina has failed to qualify for any State permits required to move this project forward, and faces an uphill legal battle if they intend to rely on Federal approval alone. Pembina has still not resubmitted applications for the necessary Clean Water Act, Removal-Fill, and Coastal Zone Management Act permits, which were either denied by State agencies or withdrawn from by the company. The State of Oregon, multiple Tribal Governments, impacted landowners, and environmental organizations have challenged the Federal approval of Jordan Cove LNG in DC Circuit Court.
“For over 15 years communities across Southern Oregon have united in opposition to Jordan Cove LNG,” said Hannah Sohl of Rogue Climate. “It’s time for Pembina to read the writing on the wall and cancel Jordan Cove LNG so Southern Oregon can focus on creating local jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency instead.”
