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0 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 Developers donate 14 acres to Talent for open space ... Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 16,1915 ... Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon ... Developers donate 14 acres to Talent for open space ... Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 16,1915 ... Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Base LNG decision on public interest, not politics Comment By Christine Haynie MailTribune.com By Christine Haynie Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Christine Haynie Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Government approval or disapproval of the proposed fracked Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal and pipeline should be based on public interest and not tilted by political influence. That’s what the Mail Tribune argued in its Oct. 25 editorial. As the grassroots coalition opposing the Pacific Connector/Jordan Cove LNG export project, we couldn’t agree more. Thousands of Oregonians are contacting Gov. Kate Brown, concerned that, without strong leadership from her, the LNG export project will be rammed through to please corporate special interests at the expense of the rest of us. The poorly named Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made it clear on Sept. 30 that it intends to give the LNG project federal approval. The commission should really be called something like the Federal Energy Rubberstamp for Corporations. In its entire history, it has never rejected an LNG export project. In this case, FERC did not even consider that a Canadian company’s export terminal on our coast would create Oregon’s largest source of climate-changing carbon emissions. FERC did not take seriously the higher energy prices businesses and residents would pay when some of our energy is exported. FERC ignored the 700 landowners who would be forced to accept this pipeline on their land under threat of the government using “eminent domain” to benefit a private, out-of-state corporation. FERC pushed aside impacts on local jobs in fishing, tourism and other industries. FERC papered over the risks of locating a massive, highly explosive facility in our state’s earthquake and tsunami zone. FERC did not take into account the 17 above-ground pipeline valves that would be situated in fire-prone areas. FERC minimized any effect from a pipeline affecting 400 waterways, including many of our major rivers. In short, the inevitable approval from FERC is based not on the merits but on a process that is tilted toward the oil and gas industry. In 2010, Gov. Ted Kulongoski saw FERC’s flawed process on a previous version of this LNG project and recognized that he needed to step up to stop it because of the “profound potential impacts on the lives of Oregonians.” Kulongoski publicly committed to sue FERC to force it to reconsider its approval. We are asking that Brown do the same. Would the Canadian profiteers behind the LNG project threaten to countersue? Probably. Would they lobby Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Greg Walden to pressure Brown to back off? Certainly. But they huffed and puffed in 2010 and eventually put the project on hold. Their public position was that Kulongoski had nothing to do with it. Giant corporations rarely say they dropped a bad idea because of grassroots opposition. No doubt changing energy markets may have had an effect. But Kulongoski’s leadership couldn’t have hurt. Brown should make that same commitment. She also has authority as chairwoman of the State Land Board to review uses of Oregon lands for LNG export projects. The Department of Land Conservation should review the project under the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Department of Environmental Quality should take the time to fully evaluate whether the project is consistent with water quality criteria and is the best use of waterways. If these agencies do a review on the merits, without a corporate thumb tilting the scales, the LNG export project will never get the state permits it needs. Kate Brown has said Oregon needs to reduce carbon emissions by two tons per person by 2050. The LNG project alone would emit one ton per person. If she is serious about slowing the pace of climate change, she must ensure that this huge backward step is never taken. Kate Brown says Oregon needs more jobs with good wages. Our state has created more than 5,000 jobs in sustainable energy. Money invested in solar energy provides 17 times more jobs than the same amount spent on natural gas development. She should be leading us toward a renewable energy economy and away from more spending on fossil fuels. Our coalition of affected landowners, small businesses, and other concerned Oregonians wants Brown to help ensure a complete and unbiased review of the fracked LNG export project. With federal “regulators” in industry’s pocket, she is Oregon’s first line of defense against a decision based on politics and not the public interest. Christine Haynie of Medford is a member of the Stand Up for Oregon! Coalition Team. By Christine Haynie MailTribune.com By Christine Haynie Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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... 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