The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today approved the siting of a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River.

It is the first LNG terminal to receive approval in Oregon, though its certification does not mean the end to the Jordan Cove Energy Project terminal, proposed for Coos Bay’s North Spit.

At a meeting this morning in Washington D.C., the board voted 4-1 to authorize the Bradwood Landing LNG terminal and related NorthernStar Energy pipeline. Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff dissented. If built, the project would deliver up to 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas per day to the Pacific Northwest.

But Jordan Cove Manager Bob Braddock is confident the terminal proposed for Clatsop County won’t be built. He has said Oregon can only support one LNG terminal, but FERC’s approval doesn’t mean Bradwood Landing can break ground. It has not obtained county and state land-use approval. And ultimately, the project that is built will need to secure contracts from LNG suppliers.

“FERC certification is only an element of the whole process,” Braddock said. “It’s not surprising that they approved (Bradwood). We just continue down the road.”

The Bradwood project was submitted to FERC about a year before Jordan Cove began its filing process, Braddock noted, and there was never any thought that the Coos Bay project would catch up. Given the criteria FERC considers, Braddock said it was his expectation Bradwood’s project would be approved. He expects FERC to approve his project as well.

The Bradwood approval included 109 conditions designed to enhance the safety and security of the facilities and to ensure the project has limited effects on the environment, a press release said.

“We carefully considered more than 1,827 public comments, many of which came from six scoping meetings held in Oregon, and numerous studies and analyses from federal, state, and local agencies,” said FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher in a press release. “Bradwood Landing can help meet the projected energy needs of the Pacific Northwest in a safe, secure manner with limited adverse environmental impacts.”

Wellinghoff said he voted against approval because there are reasonable alternatives for supplying the Pacific Northwest with energy, such as investing in renewable energy and building gas pipeline to domestic supplies.

He also said “significant environmental concerns about the Bradwood Project have not been fully or fairly evaluated.”

Bradwood opponents have 30 days to request a rehearing.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski and others had requested FERC issue a supplemental environmental impact statement but the federal agency refused.

In a press release this morning, Kulongoski said the state of Oregon would request a rehearing.

“Oregon deserves a rehearing on this project. Moving forward with this project as is – which is incomplete – disregards states’ rights in this process,” he said in a press release. “If legal action is necessary to compel FERC to do this right, I am prepared to exercise that option.”

The news comes a day after voters in Clatsop County overturned an attempt by that county’s commissioners to ease land-use restrictions barring pipeline construction in parks and designated open spaces.

“This vote will have real consequences for LNG on the Columbia River,” said Columbia Riverkeeper Executive Director and attorney Brent Foster in a press release. “First, it shows citizens are strongly opposed to LNG. Second, the citizens restored the protective zoning, so the project now violates land use law.”