Oregon Public Broadcasting

Federal energy regulators Thursday approved a controversial natural gas import terminal along the lower Columbia River.

A federal panel concluded the Bradwood Landing project is safe and needed to serve growing demand for natural gas in the Northwest.

Opposition groups, along with Oregon’s governor, blasted the approval and plan to challenge it.  Correspondent Tom Banse has details.

In Washington, D.C., the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 4 to 1 to approve the Bradwood Landing natural gas import terminal.

A scale representation of the Bradwood Landing terminal looking across Clifton Channel.  The Columbia River flows at the left.

The project would be located about 20 miles upriver of Astoria on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.  The terminal would off load liquefied natural gas -- LNG -- from ocean-going tankers. From there, the gas would flow to the region through pipelines. 

Federal energy commissioner Phil Moeller says natural gas imports are needed to replace dwindling domestic reserves.

Phil Moeller: “We need gas from every source available and this is one of them. I think there are plenty of leaders from the Northwest who will verify that.  I believe that this is part of the diversity and balance of a sound energy policy.  I believe that the record shows that this facility can be operated safely.”

The federal approval was expected, but backers still found reason to celebrate.  The project developer is Houston-based Northern Star Natural Gas.

Company vice president Joe Desmond called the favorable vote a “milestone.”

Joe Desmond: “This is probably the most important approval.  It represents the culmination of three and half years of review.”

If all goes according to plan, the developer hopes to break ground late next year.  The tanker terminal would go into operation in 2012.

But all may not go according to plan.  Within an hour of the vote, Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski announced that Oregon will appeal the federal permit. 

Separately, the tanker terminal and distribution pipeline need a bunch of state permits. Oregon and Washington need to sign off before construction can start. 

And project opponents such as Brent Foster of the group Columbia Riverkeeper are gearing up to block the state permits.

Brent Foster: “If Oregon says no to the pollution discharge permits or any of the other permits, then the projects are stopped. This is actually exactly what’s happened in California and other places where the states have effectively stopped LNG projects.”

Two other tanker terminal proposals are winding their way through the permitting process.  One would go in Coos Bay and the other would be located at the Port of Astoria. 

Both of these are a little bit behind Bradwood Landing, but could come to the fore if the frontrunner falters.

Online:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission