Only one month after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a gas pipeline expansion, running through the Pacific Northwest and Central Oregon, environmental groups opposing the decision filed a request for rehearing.
The Nov. 22 request for rehearing was filed by Oregon organizations, Rogue Climate and Columbia Riverkeeper, urging FERC to reconsider its approval of the controversial project.
“FERC failed to resolve critical questions raised by states, senators, and thousands of people across the Northwest,” read a statement from Audrey Leonard, staff attorney of Columbia Riverkeeper. “The GTN Xpress project is unnecessary and destructive. FERC must reconsider or risk facing a challenge in federal court.”
FERC has 30 days to respond to the request for rehearing, according to the press release. If the request is denied, Columbia Riverkeeper and Rogue Climate can challenge FERC’s decision in federal court.
FERC approved the project on Oct. 19, allowing TC Energy, a Canadian energy company, to pump an additional 150 million cubic feet per day through the pipeline. The project, which was proposed in 2019, has garnered high opposition from environmental groups, along with lawmakers, who cite major climate stakes.
“Some of the cities, states and counties have set up special rules when they know there is a pipeline. We just hope that we can hopefully get the City of Bend to do that.” – Diane Hodiak
“FERC’s rubber stamp is a reckless disregard for Oregon’s desire for clean beneficial electrification that will lower costs and clean up our air,” said Diane Hodiak, the executive director of 350 Deschutes, a local climate advocacy group that’s part of the coalition fighting against the pipeline. “Even worse, this aging pipeline within two miles of Bend will have significant explosion risks that could trigger a deadly wildfire.”
The pipeline runs through planned neighborhoods Stevens Road Tract and Stevens Ranch. Hodiak hopes to see some sort of resolution that will aim for safety. Planning amendments for the Tract suggest a community park will sit adjacent to the pipeline trail.
“Some of the cities, states and counties have set up special rules when they know there is a pipeline,” she said. “We just hope that we can hopefully get the City of Bend to do that.”
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This article appears in Source Weekly November 23, 2023.
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The “pissing in the wind” climate feel-goodism is doing one thing: Making life more expensive for people. Lower and middle class people who are already struggling to make ends meet do NOT want higher energy prices, or to be forced to buy expensive and unreliable electric options.
Natural gas is incredibly clean, safe and reliable. Remember that there are always downsides to the “alternatives”.
Don’t let the nut jobs take one of the most important sources of domestic energy away. Look at Germany and California if you want to see what happens when environmental armchair experts win.
Building on top of or around natural gas pipelines is a bad idea:
From 2010 to 2016 Gas companies reported 35 explosions and 32 ignitions at their transmission pipelines, according to federal records. The explosions killed 17 people and injured 86. A September 2010 explosion in San Bruno, Calif., killed eight and injured 51 people.