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Oregon appeals approval of LNG site on Columbia
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | No comments posted.
PORTLAND (AP) — The state of Oregon has asked a federal appeals court to overturn the approval of a site for a liquefied natural gas terminal along the Columbia River.
The request could send the Bradwood Landing proposal back to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where opponents of the project expect the Obama administration to appoint more sympathetic members.
The new president has named Jon Wellinghoff as acting chairman. Wellinghoff was the lone opponent to the site when the commission voted 4-1 in September to approve it. Two more commission vacancies are expected in June.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General John Kroger contend the commission acted prematurely, before state permits were processed, and its environmental analysis was flawed.
Bradwood’s developer is Houston-based NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc., whose spokesman, Joe Desmond, said the possibility of a federal court appeal was built it into project development plans. He said the company will continue working on state permits and with the National Marine Fisheries Service during the appeal.
NorthernStar originally hoped Bradwood would be free to start construction by the end of 2007. An appeal before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could take 18 months to two years to resolve.
Wellinghoff helped establish the commission’s Energy Innovations Sector to promote new technologies and was the main author of renewable energy standards in Nevada, where he served as the state’s first consumer advocate for customers of public utilities.
“The new chairman is technically only one vote, but he does help set the agenda for the discussions and considerations of FERC,” said Peter Huhtala, executive director of the Astoria-based Columbia River Business Alliance. “It’s a step in the right direction, certainly.”
Wellinghoff came to Oregon in 2007 to talk with local and state leaders about the three LNG projects proposed in the state.
“He listened to our concerns,” said Huhtala. “I felt like we were listened to, and — son of a gun — he followed up.”
The request could send the Bradwood Landing proposal back to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where opponents of the project expect the Obama administration to appoint more sympathetic members.
The new president has named Jon Wellinghoff as acting chairman. Wellinghoff was the lone opponent to the site when the commission voted 4-1 in September to approve it. Two more commission vacancies are expected in June.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General John Kroger contend the commission acted prematurely, before state permits were processed, and its environmental analysis was flawed.
Bradwood’s developer is Houston-based NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc., whose spokesman, Joe Desmond, said the possibility of a federal court appeal was built it into project development plans. He said the company will continue working on state permits and with the National Marine Fisheries Service during the appeal.
NorthernStar originally hoped Bradwood would be free to start construction by the end of 2007. An appeal before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could take 18 months to two years to resolve.
Wellinghoff helped establish the commission’s Energy Innovations Sector to promote new technologies and was the main author of renewable energy standards in Nevada, where he served as the state’s first consumer advocate for customers of public utilities.
“The new chairman is technically only one vote, but he does help set the agenda for the discussions and considerations of FERC,” said Peter Huhtala, executive director of the Astoria-based Columbia River Business Alliance. “It’s a step in the right direction, certainly.”
Wellinghoff came to Oregon in 2007 to talk with local and state leaders about the three LNG projects proposed in the state.
“He listened to our concerns,” said Huhtala. “I felt like we were listened to, and — son of a gun — he followed up.”
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