Natural Gas Protesters Want Governor's Support

GOVERNMENT 

By Ethan Lindsey

Salem, OR  February 6, 2008 4:05 p.m.

More than one hundred protesters gathered on the Capitol steps in Salem Wednesday to protest plans to build liquefied natural gas shipping terminals in the state. Ethan Lindsey reports.

Protest organizers promised a line-up of big names coming out to denounce the construction of any LNG terminals.

Secretary of State Bill Bradbury showed up -- though organizers say they were a little disappointed he had spilled the beans on his opposition at a conference last week.

Bill Bradbury: “I cannot in good conscience support a move that would tie us to fossil fuel imports from foreign countries.”

Several companies propose building LNG stations near the mouth of the Columbia and in Coos Bay, where super tankers drop off shipments of super-chilled liquiefied natural gas.

Dueling Democratic Senate candidates criticized the proposals and, by extension, the state's Republican Senator Gordon Smith. Smith has supported current federal energy policy.

House Speaker Jeff Merkley said the plan is a “big mistake” and that any LNG terminal would put millions of tons of emissions into the atmosphere.

Progressive activist Steve Novick mentioned the elephant in the room - or at least the one in the state Capitol.

Steve Novick: “The Governor can stop this process, the Governor can halt the LNG terminals. The Governor should halt these LNG terminals.”

Democratic Governor Ted Kuolongoski wasn't there. But the Governor was roundly criticized for his conditional support of the LNG projects, in an environmental impact review released last year.

The Governor met with some of the activists after the rally, his office said. In those meetings, he supposedly made clear that he has many questions about LNG. But he remains open to the considering an LNG project.

Organizers say they are happy with the event, and the fact that lawmakers are now being forced to pick sides in the debate. They just wish the Governor had picked the other one.

Share this article: del.icio.us digg newsvine

© 2008 OPB