Oregon Public Broadcasting

Supporters and opponents of a new half-billion-dollar natural gas pipeline met in Shady Cove Wednesday.

The public hearing is one of four the pipeline developers are holding after the release of a draft environmental report required for government approval. Ethan Lindsey reports.

If approved, the 230-mile pipeline would originate at a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal near Coos Bay.

It would then run southeast, past Medford, to meet up with a bigger gas pipeline near the California border.

Opponents, like Jacksonville lawyer Dave Lohman, say the project is a little too much California love.

Dave Lohman: “This one is undeniably about California. I’m not sure if the ones on the Columbia River if there is some benefit to Northwest gas users up there, but this one is clearly very minor benefit.”

Supporters say the projects will bring jobs and cleaner energy to the region.

But the process has taken a step forward since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released draft environmental impact studies for the Southern Oregon projects last month.