ASTORIA (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith says Oregon should wait for a federal decision on a liquefied natural gas terminal but his Democratic challenger says the state should not be a site no matter the ruling.

Jeff Merkley, speaker of the Oregon House, has opposed a gas terminal in Oregon, setting up a new battle in the race for Smith’s Senate seat.

Smith said Wednesday he is awaiting a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision on the placement of a liquefied natural gas terminal at Bradwood Landing on the Columbia River near Astoria.

Decisions about terminals are made by FERC under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, approved by Smith and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The act eliminated states from the decision, a change that Republican presidential candidate John McCain opposed.

Smith said the nation needs to expand its energy supply, but only if it can be obtained safely.

“I’m going to let FERC do their job and we’ll see how that comes out,” said Smith told The Daily Astorian. “But I want them to focus on safety, recognizing at the same time that we need energy.”

No Oregon congressional representatives have opposed liquefied natural gas, or LNG.

Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. David Wu, both Democrats, have challenged the FERC approval process but have not opposed LNG.

Smith said he was in favor of recently failed legislation proposed by Wyden to give back some decision-making rights to states.

Like Obama, Smith also supported a failed amendment to the Energy Policy Act that would have given a state’s governor the final say on the site approval.

Smith is vying for his third term as a senator from Oregon, having served in the office since 1997. He previously served in the Oregon Senate.