Oregon Public Broadcasting

The federal government has green lighted a proposed natural gas tanker terminal on the lower Columbia River. 

Federal energy regulatory commissioners voted 4 to 1 Thursday in favor of the Bradwood Landing project.  The import terminal would be located upriver from Astoria. 

Commissioner Phil Moeller says natural gas imports will add diversity to the region’s energy supply.

Phil Moeller: “The Northwest has very little gas of its own in terms of native production. The traditional supplier is western Canada.  Those supplies are dwindling -- number one, because they’re running out; number two, because they’re using it increasingly in the Alberta tar sands area for more petroleum exploration.” 

The developer, Houston-based Northern Star Natural Gas, celebrated what it considers to be its most important permit for this project.  But Democratic Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and a number of environmental groups condemned the federal approval. 

The tanker terminal still needs a variety of state permits before construction can begin.