Why must we have a liquefied natural gas facility shoved on us?

LNG is not a self-sustaining, renewable resource within our shores, but must be shipped across the Pacific from third-world countries and in competition with other buyers.

Presently, we have a near-to pristine bay. The air is clean; not so if a LNG plant is sited here. Each year tons of particulate matter would be released into our now clean air. Many people would want to move away. Many others would not want to move here. Why would they with the noise reverberating across the bay, the polluted air, the potential danger risk? Our whole port identity would be lost to LNG. Coos Bay would be known as an LNG port.

LNG tankers are huge, three football fields in length and 13 stories high, with rumor they will soon be made larger. By their nature these tankers impose restrictions for other boat traffic. Our port is narrow. Other vessels would be forced to come and go according to LNG tanker restraints.

Yes, of course, we need jobs, but only 50 to 60 jobs would be offered by this facility, not a fair exchange for what would be lost having an LNG facility sited here. As for other industries coattailing on an LNG facility, few would want to sit next to an LNG plant or in an LNG port.

As for the 36-inch LNG pipeline that would traverse our state through peoples’ lands, forests and many streams, it’s an insult to the people, their land and to the integrity of Oregon.

If we must have an energy facility here, then why not a solar power plant? This would create not a few but hundreds of jobs and help Oregon become a leader in self-sustaining green energy. This is one plausible answer that would solve our job situation and yet keep our identity — that of a scenic bay and a clean air coast.

Kay Franklin

Coos Bay