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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Baggage carousel to be painted like roulette wheel at Medford airport ... UPDATED: Jordan Cove LNG project gets final environmental approval ... Victorian mourning rituals explored at Beekman House this weekend ... Baggage carousel to be painted like roulette wheel at Medford airport ... UPDATED: Jordan Cove LNG project gets final environmental approval ... Victorian mourning rituals explored at Beekman House this weekend ... PIPELINE PROJECT Jordan Cove EIS due out Wednesday Natural gas pipeline would stretch from Malin to Coos Bay Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 5:44 PM Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 5:44 PM » Social News Coos Bay World The next piece of the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas project puzzle is about to fall into place. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's final environmental impact statement for Jordan Cove Energy Project and the Pacific Connector gas pipeline is scheduled for release today, a huge milestone for the project that's been mired in controversy for more than a decade. The final EIS comes out nearly 11 months after Jordan Cove's 5,043-page draft EIS was published. The project includes a pipeline stretching from Malin to Coos Bay. It would cross through Jackson County northeast of Shady Cove. Mark Wall, co-chair of Boost Southwest Oregon, a Coos Bay area group organized two years ago that's pro-Jordan Cove, agrees that "there's a role for renewables," but says fossil fuels like natural gas are necessary to meet current energy needs. "When you look at the sheer scale of world demand for energy, there's no doubt that for the foreseeable future, fossil fuels are what's going to drive our economies," Wall said. "Solar and wind just isn't going to do it. You hear the term 'transitional fuels.' LNG is a lot better than burning coal and it's a lot better than burning oil." Still, it's hard for Western Environmental Law Center staff attorney Susan Jane Brown to believe Jordan Cove will be successful. "LNG is becoming a lot less competitive on the international market," she said. "The whole reason to do this project, at least now, is for export. And Jordan Cove has not been able to demonstrate that it's got clients or buyers for this gas. Without being able to do that, there is a real question whether this project is in the public interest, which is what FERC needs to decide when it grants that certificate." All but three proposed LNG export facilities are on the Gulf of Mexico or East Coast. Oregon LNG in the northern part of the state, Alaska LNG and Jordan Cove are the only ones on the West Coast; Jordan Cove is two steps ahead of Oregon LNG and Alaska LNG is at the bottom of the pack. Jordan Cove has been pushed as a prime candidate to export LNG to Asian markets, as it would be the first export terminal on the United States' West Coast. If Jordan Cove makes it through the FERC's process, the next step for opponents is to file a petition for rehearing in front of the commission. They'll have 30 days to do so. FERC however, is not required to grant a rehearing. FERC is expected to make a final decision Dec. 29. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 29, 2015 at 5:44 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501