Coalition applauds final denial of Jordan Cove LNG Terminal and Pacific Connector Pipeline

Late Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) denied a request from Canadian oil and gas companies for rehearing of the case surrounding the proposed Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal and Pacific Connector Pipeline, finalizing the commission’s rejection of the project in March. Landowners, citizens, and organizations are now calling on the State of Oregon to cease work on any outstanding permits related to the terminal and pipeline.

FERC refused to allow Jordan Cove to submit new evidence, and reaffirms that the record as it existed in March failed to demonstrate public benefit. A coalition of landowners, conservationists, climate activists, water advocates, businesses, and concerned citizens have opposed this project for more than a decade.

In denying the project, FERC determined that the proponents failed to prove the public benefits outweighed the adverse effects on landowners. Approximately 90 percent of landowners along the proposed 234-mile pipeline route refused to sign agreements with the project proponents and had been threatened with eminent domain.

Quotes from landowners, citizens and organizations:

“Even when you are up against huge amounts of money, you can still win.” Jody McCaffree, Citizens Against LNG

“Landowners have maintained for years that the use of eminent domain is inappropriate for this project. We are so pleased today that FERC agreed with our position.” Bob Barker, affected landowner

“Today we celebrate the denial of a proposal that would have polluted our waterways, harmed our salmon, exacerbated our climate challenges and trampled on the rights of Oregonians. May this decision start a trend for our government to deny fossil fuel projects so that we can fully focus on developing renewable energy sources.” Lesley Adams, Waterkeeper Alliance

“We have been living under this threat for a decade. A burden has been lifted from our backs today and it feels great.” Bill Gow, affected landowner

“Everyone can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Oregon landowners in the path of the pipeline won’t have their private property violated. Oregon rivers and streams won’t be trenched for the pipeline. Navigation in Coos Bay won’t be clogged by LNG mega-tankers and their large safety exclusion zones. Federal forests won’t be threatened with landslides, fires, and habitat loss. Oregon wins big today.” Susan Jane Brown, staff attorney, Western Environmental Law Center

“We are relieved to see FERC finally come to their senses and deny this outrageous project. This is a huge victory for salmon streams from the Rogue River to Coos Bay.” Robyn Janssen, Rogue Riverkeeper

“FERC acknowledged what so many have known all along – this project’s limited benefits do not outweigh the negative impacts to landowners and communities. It’s time to move forward with real solutions to build prosperity for Coos County and a clean energy future for all Oregonians.” Courtney Johnson, Crag Law Center

“In rejecting this ill-conceived project FERC rightfully put the people and environmental health of Oregon before corporate interests,” said Francis Eatherington, with Oregon Women’s Land Trust. “It would have been a disaster for Oregon’s precious waterways and the species that rely on them, and it would have exacerbated climate change at a time when we desperately need to move away from these dangerous fossil fuels.” Francis Eatherington, Oregon Women’s Land Trust

“CALNG, based in Coos County, has been working to prevent the Jordan Cove Terminal and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline for over ten years. On Friday, FERC agreed that this project has no public benefit. We credit the amazing work and perseverance of Jody McCaffree and many others to reach this point to stop this hazardous facility being sited on the edge of the Cascadia Subduction Zone.” Katy Eymann, President, Citizens Against LNG

“Huge credit goes to the people of southern Oregon who stood their ground for ten years to prevail over LNG. From the Oregon LNG proposal on the Columbia River, to the Jordan Cove LNG project in Southern Oregon, FERC’s denial sends a clear message: you’re next.” Konrad Fisher, Klamath Riverkeeper

“When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it at first and then I just started crying as I looked out the window at my beautiful home and realized that we had prevailed . . . David beat Goliath and we were safe.” Stacey McLaughlin, affected landowner

“Cascadia Wildlands is overjoyed with the FERC decision to deny the applications for the Jordan Cove Export terminal and Pacific Connector pipeline. Our members, volunteers, staff and allies have shown incredible persistence in making the concerns of Oregonians heard throughout this ordeal. Though there is more to be done, Cascadia Wildlands will join those who worked tirelessly on to bring about this result in celebrating this huge victory.” Robin Meacher, Cascadia Wildlands

“We deeply appreciate more than a decade of work from thousands of Oregonians and the Oregon families who refused to be steamrolled by these fossil fuel giants. Together, our steadfast opposition protected not just their homes, but also hundreds of rivers and a more stable climate.” Jarod Margolis, Center for Biological Diversity

“The Sierra Club couldn’t be happier to learn of the final FERC denial on Jordan Cove. We have been working for years to stop this and other LNG facilities. We hope this is the beginning of the end for Jordan Cove and for proposed LNG export terminals nationwide.” Rhett Lawrence, Oregon Sierra Club

“This action shows that when Oregonians organize and speak out we can win,” said Hannah Sohl, director of Rogue Climate, one of the organizations involved in a broad coalition opposing the LNG project. “This order puts the public interest over the special interests of large out-of-state corporations interested only in short-term profit at our expense. Our state should be focused on creating good-paying jobs in improving energy efficiency and the expanding clean energy industry, such as solar power, not on new fossil fuel projects that hurt us all. This should be the end of this LNG project but we will have to remain vigilant to ensure that is the case.” Hannah Sohl, Rogue Climate

Contacts:
Susan Jane Brown, Western Environmental Law Center, 503-914-1323, Francis Eatherington, Oregon Women’s Land Trust, 541-643-1309, Bob Barker, affected landowner, 530-306-6694,
Cameron La Follette, Oregon Coast Alliance, 503-391-0210, Katy Eymann, President Citizens Against LNG, 503-581-5050, Jonathon Berman, Sierra Club, 202-495-3033, Phillip Johnson, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, 503-754-9303, Robin Meacher, Cascadia Wildlands, 541-434-1463, Hannah Sohl, Rogue Climate, 541-840-1065, Courtney Johnson, Crag Law Center, 503-525-2728, Robyn Janssen, Rogue Riverkeeper, 541-488-9831, John Ward, Rogue Flyfishers, 541-884-2015, Stacey McLaughlin, Pipeline Awareness Southern Oregon, 541-860-8307, Konrad Fisher, Klamath Riverkeeper, 530-921-9660, k

Read more about WELC’s work to stop the LNG project here.