Federal regulators decline to reconsider Oregon pipeline

Federal regulators on Friday refused to reconsider a 230-mile liquefied natural gas pipeline that would have terminated in the southern Oregon coastal town of Coos Bay, handing a serious setback to a multi-billion project to deliver the gas to markets in Asia.

In a 15-page opinion, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied requests from the Jordan Cove Energy Project, the Pacific Gas Connector Pipeline, the state of Wyoming and the Wyoming Pipeline Authority to reopen the case and reaffirmed the agency’s decision from earlier this year. In that March 11 ruling, the agency found there was little evidence to support the need for a pipeline and not enough public benefit from the project, which has been tied up in a legal fight for several years.

Supporters of the pipeline, however, challenged the decision in an appeal and also moved to swing public opinion to their side. Wyoming, which was among those challenging that ruling, argued that FERC should have considered the economic benefit from the pipeline to its residents from increased natural gas production, royalties and taxes.

Colorado sent representatives to Oregon to lobby for the pipeline this fall and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper asked federal regulators to take another look at the $7 billion project, which would allow it to ship natural gas to markets in Japan.

TV advertisements touting the pipeline’s potential economic benefits aired in Oregon during last summer’s Olympic Games.

Veresen Inc., the Calgary, Alberta-based company, said in a statement Friday that it would consider another appeal or might submit a new application to FERC.

“Veresen remains committed to this important energy infrastructure project,” said Don Althoff, Verensen’s president and CEO. “We are very disappointed by FERC’s decision, especially in light of the significant progress that has been made in demonstrating market support for the project and the strong showing of public support for the project.”

The pipeline route would have stretched from the farming town of Malin east of the Cascade Mountains, just north of the California border, to Coos Bay on the southern Oregon coast. The route, which was opposed by private landowners and environmentalists, would have crossed rivers, mountain ranges and a mix of private and public lands. — AP

PORTLAND: Native Americans from left, Eugene Sanchez, Jason Umtuch, Martan Mendenhall, and Hugh Ahnatock, all of Portland, Oregon, drum and sing at the Oceti Sakowin camp where people have gathered to protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline in Cannon...